Developing a Context for Change in Gang Affected Neighbourhoods. Exploring Synergies and Discords at Micro and Macro Levels

Abstract

The paper suggests that there are similar values ie. economic success and a culture of consumerism embedded in both the legitimate and illegitimate economies. It discusses possible micro and macro interventions to reduce the strains that arise from the blocked opportunities in attaining shared values. At a local level the paper discusses an action research model to develop social capital; in the broader context the paper discusses the redistributive potential of the circular economy to facilitate interventions which reduce harms.

I’m Trying to Save My Family: Parent Experiences of Child Criminal Exploitation

“…There has been growing concern about child criminal exploitation in the United Kingdom since the 2010s. While the National Crime Agency first reported a threat assessment for child criminal exploitation in relation to county lines in 2015, shortly before this, Andell and Pitts (2017: 12–13) highlighted its association with a ‘perfect storm’ of factors. This included the loss of employment opportunities for young people, reductions in staff and resources for youth services and the scarcity of appropriate accommodation which led to the co-location of care leavers with children leaving custody (Andell and Pitts, 2017).…”

“…While the National Crime Agency first reported a threat assessment for child criminal exploitation in relation to county lines in 2015, shortly before this, Andell and Pitts (2017: 12–13) highlighted its association with a ‘perfect storm’ of factors. This included the loss of employment opportunities for young people, reductions in staff and resources for youth services and the scarcity of appropriate accommodation which led to the co-location of care leavers with children leaving custody (Andell and Pitts, 2017). This coincided with the saturation of the drugs market in urban areas and increasing levels of competition which gave rise to the emergence of ‘county lines’, where class A drugs were distributed from urban areas into rural, border and coastal towns (Windle and Briggs, 2015).…”