CSI: CRIMES ™
Member
What do people think of this? Personally i agree on this, too many wannabe gangs are actually calling themselves bloods or crips in our country, i mean damn it's in USA, dont copy them, tryhards :rofl:
With the introduction of tough new laws to combat gangs in NSW comes news from New Zealand that youth gangs there are modelling themselves on American street gangs, adopting their language and culture of violent behaviour. But has Australia got a gang problem and if so, if the solution longer prison sentences and wider police powers?
In NSW, gang members – even those joining “impromptu” gangs like those that came together during the Cronulla riots – who commit criminal offences will face up to five years in jail.
“This law recognises crimes committed by these gangs are a greater threat to safety and well-being of the community than most crimes committed by individuals acting alone,” NSW Police Minister Carl Scully says.
In New Zealand two recent murders have been attributed to “turf wars” between youth gangs that are also adopting American-style names like the “Bloodz “ and wearing gang “colours”.
The most up to date research done on Australian gangs was carried out by Professor Rob White from the University of Tasmania’s school of sociology and published by the Australian Institute of Crimonology. He warned of the dangers of taking a purely enforcement approach to the problem.
“Namely, intervention must not be exclusively coercive (through increased supervision and suppression of youth), but must also involve provision of services and opportunities (through education and job programs) that make attractive pro-social alternatives to gang membership and engagement in gang-related behaviour,” he said in the 2004 report.
“This is perhaps the key message of gang research—that police and community responses to gangs must combine several different kinds of measures, in ways that enhance the participation and social inclusion of young people generally.”
In earlier research Professor White also warned of the difficulties in trying to define who was a member of a gang – something that will be essential if NSW’s new laws, introduced into parliament this week, are to be effective.
“A young person may occasionally associate with a gang, but not be a member,” Professor White said in a 2002 research report. “A young person may participate in the activities of the gang once in a while, but not be a member.
“A young person may desire to be a part of the gang, but not actually become a member. A young person may say they are part of the same crowd or gang, but not actually be a member of the relevant core group. A young person may have all the external trappings of a gang member (street gang culture in the form of dress, posture, talking style) but not be a member of a gang.”
But Professor White says there’s definite links between gangs and increased criminal or anti-social behaviour.
“Significantly, research indicates that where young people themselves claim gang membership, they tend to engage in substantially more antisocial and criminal behaviour than those who do not profess to be gang members,” he said. “Who you say you are has implications for what you do and
with whom.”
A detailed study of youth gangs amongst anglo and ethnic communities in Melbourne in 1999 found that most members came from low-income households, in low-income areas with high levels of unemployment. The study found that “street fighting, and school-based fights, were a fairly common occurrence.”.
“The specific reasons for fighting between different groups are identified as being due to perceptions regarding what is acceptable or unacceptable ways to relate to particular groups and individuals. Racism and treating people with disrespect are crucial elements in the explanation. So too is the sense of ownership and belonging associated with particular local areas and membership of particular youth groups.”
The youths interviewed for the study said pro-active and developmental strategies were needed to deal with youth gangs, and gang-related behaviour. “They spoke of the need for more support services, youth employment programmes, greater dialogue between youth and authority figures, and positive strategies which provided young people with constructive ways in which to use their time and energy.”
http://blogs.news.com.au/news/crime/index.php/news/comments/ganging_up/
With the introduction of tough new laws to combat gangs in NSW comes news from New Zealand that youth gangs there are modelling themselves on American street gangs, adopting their language and culture of violent behaviour. But has Australia got a gang problem and if so, if the solution longer prison sentences and wider police powers?
In NSW, gang members – even those joining “impromptu” gangs like those that came together during the Cronulla riots – who commit criminal offences will face up to five years in jail.
“This law recognises crimes committed by these gangs are a greater threat to safety and well-being of the community than most crimes committed by individuals acting alone,” NSW Police Minister Carl Scully says.
In New Zealand two recent murders have been attributed to “turf wars” between youth gangs that are also adopting American-style names like the “Bloodz “ and wearing gang “colours”.
The most up to date research done on Australian gangs was carried out by Professor Rob White from the University of Tasmania’s school of sociology and published by the Australian Institute of Crimonology. He warned of the dangers of taking a purely enforcement approach to the problem.
“Namely, intervention must not be exclusively coercive (through increased supervision and suppression of youth), but must also involve provision of services and opportunities (through education and job programs) that make attractive pro-social alternatives to gang membership and engagement in gang-related behaviour,” he said in the 2004 report.
“This is perhaps the key message of gang research—that police and community responses to gangs must combine several different kinds of measures, in ways that enhance the participation and social inclusion of young people generally.”
In earlier research Professor White also warned of the difficulties in trying to define who was a member of a gang – something that will be essential if NSW’s new laws, introduced into parliament this week, are to be effective.
“A young person may occasionally associate with a gang, but not be a member,” Professor White said in a 2002 research report. “A young person may participate in the activities of the gang once in a while, but not be a member.
“A young person may desire to be a part of the gang, but not actually become a member. A young person may say they are part of the same crowd or gang, but not actually be a member of the relevant core group. A young person may have all the external trappings of a gang member (street gang culture in the form of dress, posture, talking style) but not be a member of a gang.”
But Professor White says there’s definite links between gangs and increased criminal or anti-social behaviour.
“Significantly, research indicates that where young people themselves claim gang membership, they tend to engage in substantially more antisocial and criminal behaviour than those who do not profess to be gang members,” he said. “Who you say you are has implications for what you do and
with whom.”
A detailed study of youth gangs amongst anglo and ethnic communities in Melbourne in 1999 found that most members came from low-income households, in low-income areas with high levels of unemployment. The study found that “street fighting, and school-based fights, were a fairly common occurrence.”.
“The specific reasons for fighting between different groups are identified as being due to perceptions regarding what is acceptable or unacceptable ways to relate to particular groups and individuals. Racism and treating people with disrespect are crucial elements in the explanation. So too is the sense of ownership and belonging associated with particular local areas and membership of particular youth groups.”
The youths interviewed for the study said pro-active and developmental strategies were needed to deal with youth gangs, and gang-related behaviour. “They spoke of the need for more support services, youth employment programmes, greater dialogue between youth and authority figures, and positive strategies which provided young people with constructive ways in which to use their time and energy.”
http://blogs.news.com.au/news/crime/index.php/news/comments/ganging_up/