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Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice

No. 274: Police and community responses to youth gangs

Rob White
ISBN 0 642 53832 8 ; ISSN 0817-8542
February 2004

Abstract

Although there are no national data on youth gangs in Australia there is a perception that youth gangs are an emerging problem. This paper draws largely on overseas attempts to deal with gang related activity and the extent to which they have been successful. The paper discusses the use of police powers in suppressing gangs; the weapons issue; the use of aggressive coercive measures, youth curfews and anti loitering laws; community based responses to youth gangs, including the use of a four step problem solving model; and specific community strategies, including the employment of detached youth and community workers, the provision of specific facilities and services for youth, and community development initiatives. The most successful interventions have some combination of coercive and developmental measures. A key issue for both policy makers and practitioners is the weight given to particular measures within the context of an overall strategy. While for tactical purposes, coercive force may occasionally be necessary, positive approaches to gang issues also require developmental strategies and active community involvement.

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