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The guidance, ‘Safeguarding children and young people who may be affected by gang activity’ will help all professionals working with children and young people by highlighting signs to look out for such as anti-social and aggressive behaviour, permanent exclusions and substance misuse.

Supporting earlier intervention

The guidance outlines what action professionals should take if they feel a child is at risk, including referrals to social workers, police or charities and further advice on supporting the whole family to prevent young people getting involved in a gang. Overall, it will support earlier intervention with those at risk of becoming involved in gangs.

Speaking ahead of the Tackling Serious Youth Violence conference in London, Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said:

The vast majority of young people are hard-working, law-abiding citizens who make a positive contribution to their community. From record investment in positive activities for young people, to guaranteeing all 16-year-olds further training or education, every young person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. However, we are not complacent and we know challenges remain because a very small minority of young people involved in gang activity and serious youth violence can ruin the lives of families and communities in this country.

We are determined to give professionals the support and advice they need to act earlier, so they can prevent young people falling into the downward spiral of violence, substance misuse and anti-social behaviour. The new guidance shows teachers and youth workers what signs to look out for among children and young people most at risk of gang involvement. We want the early identification of these signs to become commonplace in schools and youth centres across the country as we aim to put an end to serious youth violence.

As well as supporting those working with children and young people we need to get this issue discussed in schools, playgrounds and classrooms so young people can lead the way in stamping out serious youth violence and knife crime. Next week we will speak to hundreds of young people about the impact of knife crime and violence and listen to their concerns and ideas to end the problems.

Home Office Minister David Hanson MP said:

Tackling gangs requires comprehensive action which includes prevention alongside enforcement. This new guidance will help local authorities and police identify and provide targeted support to children involved with, or at risk of becoming involved with, the dangerous gang lifestyle.

Tackling gang violence remains a priority in the Tackling Knives and Serious Youth Violence Action Programme. We have introduced gang injunctions, which provide support and help to leave gangs, for the adult gang members and we are taking legislation through parliament to extend these injunctions to 14- to 17-years-olds.

Anti-knife crime week

The new guidance will be published ahead of an anti-knife crime week in schools. The 'Count Me In: Together We Can Stop Knife Crime' campaign starts next week supported by Families Utd, representing the families of victims of knife crime. The campaign will see ministers and families involved in Families Utd visiting schools across the country and urging young people to join the campaign to end knife crime.

The new guidance outlines a range of signs that professionals need to look out for which show children and young people are being influenced by gang activity. This includes: 

• antisocial and criminal behaviour
• persistent offending
• inability to regulate own emotions and behaviour
• physical violence and aggression
• permanent exclusion from school
• alcohol and drug misuse.

The guidance outlines the process professionals should follow if they have concerns about children and young people who might be at risk. This includes how to take action to ensure the immediate safety of the young person involved and their family as well as how to ensure the young person in question is appropriately assessed and then supported to ensure they are kept safe from harm.

Through Safer School Partnerships, the Government is supporting schools to make stronger links with local police and social services to ensure professionals work together to resolve issues relating to gang activity and serious youth violence in schools across the country.

The Government’s new guidance will be launched at the Tackling Serious Youth Violence conference in London today. At the conference, teaching union NASWUT will announce its intention to launch a gangs toolkit for schools later this year which will bolster the support available for professionals in and around schools as they work to eradicate serious youth violence.

Further information

The guidance, ‘Safeguarding children and young people who may be affected by gang activity' can be found online.

Count Me In: Together We Can Stop Knife Crime Week will launch on Monday 15 March and is supported by Families Utd.