Youth GangsYouth Gangs Improving Outcomes for Young Improving Outcomes for Young People in Counties ManukauPeople in Counties Manukau

Carl Crafar – National Manager Youth Gangs

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AgendaAgenda

What happened?What happened?

What did we do? What did we do?

Where are we at now?Where are we at now?

Where to from here?Where to from here?

Questions and Questions and Discussion Discussion

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What happened…What happened…

Multiple homicidesMultiple homicides

Assaults - Individual and groupsAssaults - Individual and groups

Anti Social BehaviourAnti Social Behaviour

Rape, aggravated robbery and drug-related crimes.Rape, aggravated robbery and drug-related crimes.

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What happened …What happened …Situation extremely complex/constantly shiftingSituation extremely complex/constantly shifting

Alcohol and drugs strong aggravating factorAlcohol and drugs strong aggravating factor

Violence often extreme/random - odd pre-determined Violence often extreme/random - odd pre-determined fightfight

Innocent members of public sometimes attacked for Innocent members of public sometimes attacked for gangs amusement.gangs amusement.

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What did we do…ResearchWhat did we do…Research

Community based participantsCommunity based participantsSocial Service agencies, school principals, community Social Service agencies, school principals, community representativesrepresentatives

Auckland Government Agency staffAuckland Government Agency staffPolice, Ministry of Education, Child, Youth and FamilyPolice, Ministry of Education, Child, Youth and Family

Youth Gang MembersYouth Gang Members Current and formerCurrent and former

Non Gang Youth. Non Gang Youth.

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What did we do…ResearchWhat did we do…Research What is a Youth Gang?What is a Youth Gang?

Youth – Youth – person aged between 10 and 23 yearsperson aged between 10 and 23 years

A gang ……..A gang ……..

““A group of youths, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, A group of youths, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a loose structure, a common identifier (colours, a with a loose structure, a common identifier (colours, a

name, hand signals etc), whose activities are not name, hand signals etc), whose activities are not primarily criminal but involve (mostly) petty crimes, and primarily criminal but involve (mostly) petty crimes, and

who see themselves as a gang and are identified as who see themselves as a gang and are identified as such by others in the community (Gilbert, in such by others in the community (Gilbert, in

preparation).”preparation).”

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Maori and Pacific Gangs Expand and gain

Notoriety as they arePerceived to be

Increasingly violent

Maori and Pacific Gangs Expand and gain

Notoriety as they arePerceived to be

Increasingly violent

1970s

Rebellious teen Behaviour –

Rock ‘n’ roll, alcoholand sexual activity

Rebellious teen Behaviour –

Rock ‘n’ roll, alcoholand sexual activity

1950s

American-based HellsAngels gang influencesGang development in

New ZealandGang consists of Pakeha

American-based HellsAngels gang influencesGang development in

New ZealandGang consists of Pakeha

1960s 1980s

Gang membership Becomes more long-term

And gangs are composed of adults rather than

youth

Gang membership Becomes more long-term

And gangs are composed of adults rather than

youth

Gangs tend to moveFrom territorially

Based groups to more Highly organised gangs

Gangs tend to moveFrom territorially

Based groups to more Highly organised gangs

1990s

What did we do…ResearchWhat did we do…ResearchHistory of Youth GangsHistory of Youth Gangs

Youth Gangs identified in New Zealand in 1950s

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What did we do…Research What did we do…Research ClassificationsClassifications

Wannabes (Not a Youth Gang) Wannabes (Not a Youth Gang) Highly informalHighly informalTerritorial Gang – More Territorial Gang – More organisedorganisedUnaffiliated Criminal Youth Unaffiliated Criminal Youth Gang – Members are not under Gang – Members are not under an adult gangan adult gangAffiliated Criminal Youth Gang Affiliated Criminal Youth Gang – is defined by a relationship to – is defined by a relationship to an adult gang.an adult gang.

*Numbers difficult to identify due to the *Numbers difficult to identify due to the varying definitions used for “youth gang”varying definitions used for “youth gang”

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What did we do… ResearchWhat did we do… ResearchExample of Gang HierarchyExample of Gang Hierarchy

BPBlack Power

JBPJunior Black Power

JCBJuvenile Cripsta Boys

17-21 year olds

TNSThugs Not Soldiers

15-17 year olds

RYTRuthless Young Thugs

14-17 year olds

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What did we do… ResearchWhat did we do… ResearchDemographicDemographic

Young age structureYoung age structure

High proportion of Mäori and Pacific peoplesHigh proportion of Mäori and Pacific peoples

Areas of high economic deprivationAreas of high economic deprivation

Urban design and community capability Urban design and community capability

Recreation facilities.Recreation facilities.

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What did we do…ResearchWhat did we do…ResearchWhy do youth join gangs?Why do youth join gangs?

Family/whänau Family/whänau

- Parental disengagement- Parental disengagement

- Stressors arising from financial commitments- Stressors arising from financial commitments- Lack of engagement with servicesLack of engagement with services- Parenting skills/role models.Parenting skills/role models.

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What did we do… Research What did we do… Research Why do youth join gangs?Why do youth join gangs?

PeersPeers

- Provision of a proxy family Provision of a proxy family unitunit

- Financial and material gainFinancial and material gain- Alleviate boredomAlleviate boredom- StatusStatus- ProtectionProtection- Adult gang Adult gang

recruitment/prospecting.recruitment/prospecting.

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What did we do… ResearchWhat did we do… ResearchWhy do youth join gangs?Why do youth join gangs?

American “Gangsta”, Hip-Hop, Rap American “Gangsta”, Hip-Hop, Rap culture features very stronglyculture features very strongly Coolio (Corner Pocket Crips)Coolio (Corner Pocket Crips)Snoop Dogg (Rollin 20’ Cripps)Snoop Dogg (Rollin 20’ Cripps)Nate Dogg (Rollin 20’s Cripps) Nate Dogg (Rollin 20’s Cripps) Warren G (Rollin 20’s Cripps)Warren G (Rollin 20’s Cripps)Ice T (Rollin 30’s)Ice T (Rollin 30’s)Ice Cube (Rollin 60’s Neighbourhood Ice Cube (Rollin 60’s Neighbourhood Cripps)Cripps)

New Zealand style developing.New Zealand style developing.

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What did we do… Research What did we do… Research

Recruitment TechniquesRecruitment Techniques

Intimidation, threats, fear, Intimidation, threats, fear, protectionprotection

Peer pressurePeer pressure

Sex, drugs, alcohol, Sex, drugs, alcohol, prostitution.prostitution.

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What did we do…What did we do…Established Management ForumsEstablished Management Forums

Chief Executives’ ForumChief Executives’ Forum

- Ministries of Social Development, Justice, Education, Health and PoliceMinistries of Social Development, Justice, Education, Health and Police

Auckland Youth Support NetworkAuckland Youth Support Network

- Initially: MSD, Police, Ministries of Justice, Education, Counties Manukau Initially: MSD, Police, Ministries of Justice, Education, Counties Manukau

District Health Board, Te Puni KDistrict Health Board, Te Puni Köökiri, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.kiri, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

- - Added:Added: Housing New Zealand, Auckland and Manukau City Councils.Housing New Zealand, Auckland and Manukau City Councils.

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What did we do …What did we do …Action PlanAction Plan

Action plan methodology Action plan methodology

Crisis – covers young people picked up by Police Crisis – covers young people picked up by Police outside of normal business hoursoutside of normal business hours

- Three Police Youth Action teams – Tolerance and Three Police Youth Action teams – Tolerance and visibility visibility

- Three reception centres - short-term placements.- Three reception centres - short-term placements.

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What did we do … What did we do … Action PlanAction Plan

Intervention – high risk recidivist youth Intervention – high risk recidivist youth offendersoffenders

– Youth Offending Team Coordinator for three teamsYouth Offending Team Coordinator for three teams

– Six Integrated Case Managers to deal with 150 casesSix Integrated Case Managers to deal with 150 cases

– Maori wardens patrolling hotspotsMaori wardens patrolling hotspots

– Pasifika wardens undertaking community patrols.Pasifika wardens undertaking community patrols.– NZ Police Alcohol Action PlanNZ Police Alcohol Action Plan– Evaluation of drug and alcohol services.Evaluation of drug and alcohol services.

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What did we do … What did we do … Action PlanAction Plan

Prevention – Children, young people and their Prevention – Children, young people and their families who are at risk of poor outcomesfamilies who are at risk of poor outcomes

– Improved reporting and management of truancy - new Improved reporting and management of truancy - new electronic enrolment systemelectronic enrolment system

– Expansion of student engagement initiative to further Expansion of student engagement initiative to further three schools (total will be seven)three schools (total will be seven)

– Expand the availability of Youth Transition Services to Expand the availability of Youth Transition Services to Mt. Roskill, Mt. Albert and AvondaleMt. Roskill, Mt. Albert and Avondale

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What did we do … What did we do … Action PlanAction Plan

Prevention – Children, young people and their Prevention – Children, young people and their families who are at risk of poor outcomesfamilies who are at risk of poor outcomes

– Police officers in 10 secondary schoolsPolice officers in 10 secondary schools

– 22 youth workers contracted 22 youth workers contracted

– Canvass young people on what they needCanvass young people on what they need

– Parenting programmes.Parenting programmes.

2020

What did we do… What did we do… Action PlanAction Plan

Prevention – Children, young people and their Prevention – Children, young people and their families who are at risk of poor outcomesfamilies who are at risk of poor outcomes

– Family Start - extended to Papakura and MangereFamily Start - extended to Papakura and Mangere

– Social Workers in Schools evaluated and extended to Social Workers in Schools evaluated and extended to another four schoolsanother four schools

– 10,000 Year Nine students have had a social and 10,000 Year Nine students have had a social and health assessment.health assessment.

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Where Where are we at now… we at now…Communication strategy developed :Communication strategy developed :– Bi-monthly newsletter / Web pageBi-monthly newsletter / Web page– Manukau Matters / Manukau Matters / Agency publicationsAgency publications– Stakeholder / media managementStakeholder / media management

Multi Agency Social Services in Secondary SchoolsMulti Agency Social Services in Secondary Schools

Development of a databaseDevelopment of a database

Work and Income processWork and Income process

Re-defining police list – more targetedRe-defining police list – more targeted

Evaluation – end of 2007.Evaluation – end of 2007.

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Where are we at now…Where are we at now…Issues still existIssues still exist

Two main “groups”: Crips (Blue) and Bloods (Red) Two main “groups”: Crips (Blue) and Bloods (Red)

““Crip Family” umbrella, generally get alongCrip Family” umbrella, generally get along

The Bloods - little less organised - starting to see a “Red The Bloods - little less organised - starting to see a “Red Army” arrangementArmy” arrangement

Longevity - members hard core criminalsLongevity - members hard core criminals

Kids being kidsKids being kids

Stereotyping – Media Stereotyping – Media

Copycat behaviour.Copycat behaviour.

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Flag - left, left side of trousers rolled up, left shoe untied, hat sideways - left, rings, watches - left, laces missing on left, one glove - left

Hand signals with left hand

Will not use letter B

Will avoid words that have CK (Crip Killer)

Refer to Bloods as Slobs

Wear sports clothing with affiliation to letter CHave been seen wearing BK Shoes (BK=Blood Killa).

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Opposite of Crips everything is on right side

Flag carried on right side, shoe is untied right side, hat to right, single glove right, trousers rolled up right side

Wear red

Will not use the letter C. Will replace with the number 3. C=3rd letter in alphabet

The first blood gang called PIRU in Central LA any reference to this indicates awareness

Refer to crips as crabs.

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Where to from here…Where to from here…

Framework for dealing with Youth gangs nationallyFramework for dealing with Youth gangs nationally

IdentificationIdentification

GovernanceGovernance

Best Practice ModelBest Practice Model

Communication Strategy. Communication Strategy.

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Questions and discussionQuestions and discussion