First elements related to theinternational state of street gangs
Summary, May 2006
Olivier BARCHECHAT, Research Analyst, ICPC
In several countries,street gangs are an increasingly visible and problematic reality, particularly in North America and some countries of Central and South America, but also in Africa or Europe. This reality takes more or less serious formswhich differ to a large extent. Yet, it does not raise the same interest or the same concern on the part of the authorities. The ICPCdecided to examine to what extent street gangs are an international phenomenon by identifying common features between countries and regions. As a second step, we will try to identify some prevention actions to respond to this phenomenon.
Scope of the phenomenon and its related aspects
The absence of a common definition calls forattentionwhen comparing countries within the same nationaljurisdiction. Rather complex and vague, this concept is largely reflected in the commonly used vocabulary: “streetgangs”, “youthgangs”, “gangs”, “pandillas” and “maras”.
Streetgangs largely differ from one country to another:
i.In Canada, the number of street gangs is estimated at more than 400 and the numberof members at more than 7,000. Many of them are hybrid but the more they are organized, the more they are homogeneous from an ethnic viewpoint. Compared to the United States, the phenomenon is of a rather limited scope.The American experiencehas shown that street gangs canquickly multiply and result in increasing violence. In addition, many of them do not limit their activities to larger cities as it was the case in the past. Some have been inspired by traditional American gangs without being affiliated to them. The phenomenon is not the same in all Canadian provinces: Western provinces are more influenced while Maritime provinces (except for Nova Scotia) are not concerned at all by this phenomenon. With respect to the ethnic composition, the national average (25% of the members are Black, 22% Indigenous, 18% white, 14% Indian or Pakistani and 12% Asians) hides strong differences between provinces.
ii.In El Salvador, the problem of street gangs isserious: created by deported Salvadorian offenderswho have been expelled to the United States, maras and pandillas are territorial gangs which exert a varying control on neighbourhoods and shanty townsin several cities throughout the country, notably inthe capital. Theirmembers, whose total number fluctuates between 10,000 and 30, 000, are usually 15 to 20 years old and stronglyaffiliated.
iii.The United Statesare most probably the country with the larger number of street gangs, about 25,000 for 750,000 members. The rising phenomenon in the past twenty years largely reflects the complex reality of the United States. There are various types of street gangs identified through the Klein classification system. Concerning traditional street gangs, the situation varies from one region to another; concerning less structured gangs, this variation is more evident at the local level. The same applies to the demographic composition of street gangs. Yet, even if the multiethnic feature is not rare, almost half the members would be of Hispanic or Latin origin and a third of African American descent. Street gangs in large cities in the United Statesare different from the ones in other countries because they are institutionalized and share some common features such as stability, deep roots and ethnic homogeneity.
iv.In Rio de Janeiro, the trafficking of illicit drugs has supported the creation and the militarization of factions dealing withdrugswhich have been opposed toeach otherat a later stage. Theseconflicts have led to the recruitment of increasingly young members and the systematic useof armed violence. Established in the favelas of the city, their influence on the community has considerably grown in the absence of the police.
v.In Kingston (Jamaica), street gangs have become part of the history of political violence. Yet the development of drug and arms traffickinghas resulted in some changes. Well-established in neighbourhoods, “area gangs” have mainly pursued criminal activities (and not political ones) - extortion, protection and drug trafficking, even if they are likely tomaintain a certain order. However, new more informal “corner gangs” are increasingly unstable.
vi.In France, in some suburbs surrounding urban areas, there are many street gangswhich are notwell-structured. Theydo not haveanyspecific color, sign or distinctive symbols not even a leader. They come fromdeprivedneighbourhoodsandare formedby young French of foreign descent who feel rejected and excluded by the French society. However, in the past fifteen years, we have witnessed the rise of ethnic gangsopposing in particular youthfrom sub-Saharan Africa to others fromNorth Africa.
vii.In Belgium,various cities, notably Brussels, seem to house more or less structured street gangs.The recent arrival of “splinter groups” bring together youth of different neighbourhoodswhogather tocommit specific crimes and withdraw later on.
viii.In Manchester (England),somestreet gangs have been raisedin the neighbourhoods of the working class located close to the downtown area. While they are not very structured, they are formed by a maximum of 60 members, most of whom are young white. There are also ethnic street gangs mainly formed by Afro-Caribbeans, who have been formed on a territorial basis. Thus, their relative ethnic homogeneity reflects a local reality. With a little less than 100 members, they are not structured in a hierarchical way and do not representa formally identified leader.
ix.In South Africa, criminal street gangs of Cape Town often have an organisational hierarchical and military structure which tends to beinformal, while leadership is largely demonstrated through the charisma and personality of some individuals rather than their title.
x.In Nigeria, some groups of armed justice officers and ethnic militia have become more active in someareasin the country once the democratic regimeentered into force. The fact that six residents out of ten are less than 25 years of agehas helped in recruitinga larger number of youth and integrating them within theirwell defined hierarchical structure in charge of providing arms to the members and a basic remuneration.
Actions undertaken
Diversity can be observed with respect to the actions undertaken to respond to the problem of street gangs:
i.El Salvadorhas adopted a repressive approach at the national level. The approach temporarily considers that membership of a pandillais a crime which intensifies grievance.The approach also considers as adultsyouth aged between 12 and 18 years who are found guilty of infringements under this law. They also have to pay a fineif they are found in a specific place without proper identification papers.
ii. The American federal government extended the school programme G.R.E.A.T to all the country. Its objective is to provide youth withskills which would makethemindependent by helping them to resist to peerpressure to join a street gang.
iii. In Boston, the Ceasefire operation helped reduce the violence caused by gangs and firearms, as well as the illegal possession of firearms, with the help of anti-gang and prevention measures.
iv. In Arizona, Mesa Gang Intervention Program (MGIP) combined a wide range of intervention and control measures. The success of the intervention mainlydepended on collaboration amongst partners.
v.The Luta Pela Paz (Fight for Peace) project of Rio de Janeiroprovides youth at risk or members of armed factions with alternatives to crime and drug traffickingthrough sports, school instruction, skilldevelopment, the promotion of a culture of peace and access to the labour market.
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