Intelligence on nation's gangs to be gathered for database

The improvement to youth offending team (YOT) databases is part of a bid by the Youth Justice Board to tackle the problem of criminal gangs of young people. The move follows a spate of gang-related murders this year.

In his first interview since becoming the YJB's serious group offending, gangs and weapons strategy manager, Andy Newsam told CYP Now he is developing a protocol to help YOTs record data on teenage gang members.

"It will allow YOTs to consistently record information about gangs, their members, their relationship to other gangs and soft intelligence relating to gangs," he said. "This will enable YOTs to recognise trends and give them a greater ability to assess risk and identify young people involved in gangs."

The initiative will involve adapting existing YOT databases for recording information about gangs, which will be gathered from a mixture of sources including young people, the police and local youth clubs. Newsam said he hopes to get a group of YOTs using the protocol from January before introducing it across England and Wales.

The database is part of a wider anti-gangs strategy being put together by Newsam, which will also involve training YOTs how best to tackle gang problems and to support young people who are victims of gangs.

The strategy will also involve work in prisons and other parts of the secure estate. "We're working with the secure estate to assist with the management of gang-related issues in custody. We want better communication between YOTs and the secure estate on gangs."

The approach used by the YJB will also vary across England and Wales. "I'm visiting all the regions to get a feel for the national picture of gangs," said Newsam. "We're acutely aware that the local picture is different around the country and so varying approaches may be required."

Anyone with ideas for the gangs strategy should email andy.newsam@yjb.gov.uk.