The court orders are designed to break down gang culture by imposing prohibitions and requirements. These could include gangs being barred from entering a certain geographical area, being in public with a particular species of animal (for example a dog which had previously been used as a weapon) and wearing certain ‘gang colours’ in public.
Individuals will also be required to participate in positive activities including forms of mentoring.
“Gangs cause significant and lasting harm to our communities through fuelling violence, creating an atmosphere of fear and drawing young people into criminality,” said crime prevention minister James Brokenshire.
“These new powers will help police and local authorities tackle local gang problems by placing tough conditions on the behaviour of individuals involved in gang-related violence, and providing strong support to those who want to leave violent gangs.”
Lasting for up to two years, gang injunctions can be applied for by police and local authorities and will be issued by the courts. The new power will be available from 31 January.
Those involved in gang-related violence will still be prosecuted under criminal law if there is sufficient evidence to do so, and that it’s in the public interest to do so.
This year, the Government has provided GB pound 4 million to local partnerships in support of their work aimed at tackling serious violence committed by young people and against young people.
Ongoing fight against drugs
Meanwhile, earlier on today the Government committed GB pound 125 million across the next year in the fight against drugs to help users kick their habit for good and lead drug free lives.
The money supports the recent publication of the ambitious cross-Government drug strategy, which sets out how the authorities will tighten the net on unscrupulous dealers and, for the first time, put drug-free recovery at the heart of Westminster’s response.
As part of the drug interventions programme, the GB pound 125 million will fund work across England and Wales on drug testing, managing drug misusing offenders and drug testing equipment and infrastructure.
The funding is made up of GB pound 65 million direct from the Home Office and GB pound 60 million courtesy of the Department of Health.
Brokenshire commented: “Drugs ruin lives and cause misery in communities across the country. It’s vital we continue to fund important work that will see us intervene at the earliest opportunity, stopping people from falling into the dangerous and damaging cycle of drug dependency.”
The minister added: “These are difficult financial times. Difficult decisions have to be taken, and we must make less go further, but we’re absolutely clear in our commitment to continue funding the fight against drugs.”
Positive contributions to society
Anne Milton, the public health minister, commented: “It’s vital we do all we can to prevent people using drugs in the first place. Those who do must have access to the services they need to help them re-build their lives and contribute productively to society.”
Milton stated that recovery is at the heart of the Government’s approach to the matter. “This money will mean we can put the right services in place to enable those who are drug dependent to find the right recovery path.”
Local areas have been given greater flexibility and freedom around the use of this funding to encourage greater innovation, prioritisation of resources for local needs and an increased focus on improved rehabilitation and recovery outcomes.
It’s likely that grants will favour front line workers, with over three quarters of the funding provided for key operational staff.
