Youth Gangs Improving Outcomes for Young People in Counties Manukau Carl Crafar – National Manager Youth Gangs

Agenda What happened? What did we do? Where are we at now? Where to from here? Questions and Discussion

What happened?

What did we do?

Where are we at now?

Where to from here?

Questions and Discussion

What happened… Multiple homicides Assaults - Individual and groups Anti Social Behaviour Rape, aggravated robbery and drug-related crimes.

Multiple homicides

Assaults - Individual and groups

Anti Social Behaviour

Rape, aggravated robbery and drug-related crimes.

What happened … Situation extremely complex/constantly shifting Alcohol and drugs strong aggravating factor Violence often extreme/random - odd pre-determined fight Innocent members of public sometimes attacked for gangs amusement.

Situation extremely complex/constantly shifting

Alcohol and drugs strong aggravating factor

Violence often extreme/random - odd pre-determined fight

Innocent members of public sometimes attacked for gangs amusement.

What did we do…Research Community based participants Social Service agencies, school principals, community representatives Auckland Government Agency staff Police, Ministry of Education, Child, Youth and Family Youth Gang Members Current and former Non Gang Youth.

Community based participants

Social Service agencies, school principals, community representatives

Auckland Government Agency staff

Police, Ministry of Education, Child, Youth and Family

Youth Gang Members

Current and former

Non Gang Youth.

What did we do…Research What is a Youth Gang? Youth – person aged between 10 and 23 years A gang …….. “ A group of youths, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a loose structure, a common identifier (colours, a name, hand signals etc), whose activities are not primarily criminal but involve (mostly) petty crimes, and who see themselves as a gang and are identified as such by others in the community (Gilbert, in preparation).”

Youth – person aged between 10 and 23 years

A gang ……..

“ A group of youths, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a loose structure, a common identifier (colours, a name, hand signals etc), whose activities are not primarily criminal but involve (mostly) petty crimes, and who see themselves as a gang and are identified as such by others in the community (Gilbert, in preparation).”

What did we do…Research History of Youth Gangs Youth Gangs identified in New Zealand in 1950s Maori and Pacific Gangs Expand and gain Notoriety as they are Perceived to be Increasingly violent 1970s Rebellious teen Behaviour – Rock ‘n’ roll, alcohol and sexual activity 1950s American-based Hells Angels gang influences Gang development in New Zealand Gang consists of Pakeha 1960s 1980s Gang membership Becomes more long-term And gangs are composed of adults rather than youth Gangs tend to move From territorially Based groups to more Highly organised gangs 1990s

What did we do…Research Classifications Wannabes (Not a Youth Gang) Highly informal Territorial Gang – More organised Unaffiliated Criminal Youth Gang – Members are not under an adult gang Affiliated Criminal Youth Gang – is defined by a relationship to an adult gang. *Numbers difficult to identify due to the varying definitions used for “youth gang”

Wannabes (Not a Youth Gang) Highly informal

Territorial Gang – More organised

Unaffiliated Criminal Youth Gang – Members are not under an adult gang

Affiliated Criminal Youth Gang – is defined by a relationship to an adult gang.

What did we do… Research Example of Gang Hierarchy BP Black Power JBP Junior Black Power JCB Juvenile Cripsta Boys 17-21 year olds TNS Thugs Not Soldiers 15-17 year olds RYT Ruthless Young Thugs 14-17 year olds

What did we do… Research Demographic Young age structure High proportion of Mäori and Pacific peoples Areas of high economic deprivation Urban design and community capability Recreation facilities.

Young age structure

High proportion of Mäori and Pacific peoples

Areas of high economic deprivation

Urban design and community capability

Recreation facilities.

What did we do…Research Why do youth join gangs? Family/whänau - Parental disengagement - Stressors arising from financial commitments Lack of engagement with services Parenting skills/role models.

Family/whänau

- Parental disengagement

- Stressors arising from financial commitments

Lack of engagement with services

Parenting skills/role models.

What did we do… Research Why do youth join gangs? Peers Provision of a proxy family unit Financial and material gain Alleviate boredom Status Protection Adult gang recruitment/prospecting.

Peers

Provision of a proxy family unit

Financial and material gain

Alleviate boredom

Status

Protection

Adult gang recruitment/prospecting.

What did we do… Research Why do youth join gangs? American “Gangsta”, Hip-Hop, Rap culture features very strongly Coolio (Corner Pocket Crips) Snoop Dogg (Rollin 20’ Cripps) Nate Dogg (Rollin 20’s Cripps) Warren G (Rollin 20’s Cripps) Ice T (Rollin 30’s) Ice Cube (Rollin 60’s Neighbourhood Cripps) New Zealand style developing.

American “Gangsta”, Hip-Hop, Rap

culture features very strongly

Coolio (Corner Pocket Crips)

Snoop Dogg (Rollin 20’ Cripps)

Nate Dogg (Rollin 20’s Cripps)

Warren G (Rollin 20’s Cripps)

Ice T (Rollin 30’s)

Ice Cube (Rollin 60’s Neighbourhood Cripps)

New Zealand style developing.

What did we do… Research Recruitment Techniques Intimidation, threats, fear, protection Peer pressure Sex, drugs, alcohol, prostitution.

Intimidation, threats, fear, protection

Peer pressure

Sex, drugs, alcohol, prostitution.

What did we do… Established Management Forums Chief Executives’ Forum Ministries of Social Development, Justice, Education, Health and Police Auckland Youth Support Network Initially: MSD, Police, Ministries of Justice, Education, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Te Puni K ö kiri, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. - Added: Housing New Zealand, Auckland and Manukau City Councils.

Chief Executives’ Forum

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

Auckland Youth Support Network

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

District Health Board, Te Puni K ö kiri, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

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

What did we do … Action Plan Action plan methodology Crisis – covers young people picked up by Police outside of normal business hours Three Police Youth Action teams – Tolerance and visibility - Three reception centres - short-term placements.

Action plan methodology

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

Three Police Youth Action teams – Tolerance and visibility

- Three reception centres - short-term placements.

What did we do … Action Plan Intervention – high risk recidivist youth offenders Youth Offending Team Coordinator for three teams Six Integrated Case Managers to deal with 150 cases Maori wardens patrolling hotspots Pasifika wardens undertaking community patrols. NZ Police Alcohol Action Plan Evaluation of drug and alcohol services.

Intervention – high risk recidivist youth offenders

Youth Offending Team Coordinator for three teams

Six Integrated Case Managers to deal with 150 cases

Maori wardens patrolling hotspots

Pasifika wardens undertaking community patrols.

NZ Police Alcohol Action Plan

Evaluation of drug and alcohol services.

What did we do … Action Plan Prevention – Children, young people and their families who are at risk of poor outcomes Improved reporting and management of truancy - new electronic enrolment system Expansion of student engagement initiative to further three schools (total will be seven) Expand the availability of Youth Transition Services to Mt. Roskill, Mt. Albert and Avondale

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

Improved reporting and management of truancy - new electronic enrolment system

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

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

What did we do … Action Plan Prevention – Children, young people and their families who are at risk of poor outcomes Police officers in 10 secondary schools 22 youth workers contracted Canvass young people on what they need Parenting programmes.

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

Police officers in 10 secondary schools

22 youth workers contracted

Canvass young people on what they need

Parenting programmes.

What did we do… Action Plan Prevention – Children, young people and their families who are at risk of poor outcomes Family Start - extended to Papakura and Mangere Social Workers in Schools evaluated and extended to another four schools 10,000 Year Nine students have had a social and health assessment.

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

Family Start - extended to Papakura and Mangere

Social Workers in Schools evaluated and extended to another four schools

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

Where are we at now… Communication strategy developed : Bi-monthly newsletter / Web page Manukau Matters / Agency publications Stakeholder / media management Multi Agency Social Services in Secondary Schools Development of a database Work and Income process Re-defining police list – more targeted Evaluation – end of 2007.

Communication strategy developed :

Bi-monthly newsletter / Web page

Manukau Matters / Agency publications

Stakeholder / media management

Multi Agency Social Services in Secondary Schools

Development of a database

Work and Income process

Re-defining police list – more targeted

Evaluation – end of 2007.

Where are we at now… Issues still exist Two main “groups”: Crips (Blue) and Bloods (Red) “ Crip Family” umbrella, generally get along The Bloods - little less organised - starting to see a “Red Army” arrangement Longevity - members hard core criminals Kids being kids Stereotyping – Media Copycat behaviour.

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

“ Crip Family” umbrella, generally get along

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

Longevity - members hard core criminals

Kids being kids

Stereotyping – Media

Copycat behaviour.

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 C Have been seen wearing BK Shoes (BK=Blood Killa).

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 C

Have been seen wearing BK Shoes (BK=Blood Killa).

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.

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.

Where to from here… Framework for dealing with Youth gangs nationally Identification Governance Best Practice Model Communication Strategy.

Framework for dealing with Youth gangs nationally

Identification

Governance

Best Practice Model

Communication Strategy.

Questions and discussion