Councils to be able to apply for "gang injunctions" from next month
Police and local authorities will be able to apply for so-called “gang injunctions” from 31 January 2011, Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire has announced.
The proposed court orders – which were introduced by the Policing and Crime Act 2009 – can place various restrictions on individuals, including being barred from:
- entering a certain geographical area
- being in public with a particular species of animal, for example a dog which had previously been used as a weapon
- wearing certain “gang colours” in public.
Individuals could also be required under the orders – which can last up to two years – to participate in positive activities such as being mentored.
Councils and the police will have to apply to a county court or the High Court for the injunctions, and will be required to have regard to statutory guidance.
The orders will initially be for adults who have been proven to have engaged in, encouraged or assisted gan-related violence. The intention is for the injunctions to target a higher level of criminality than ASBOs do. The Home Office will pilot gang injunctions for 14-17-year-olds from spring 2011.
Brokenshire said: “Gangs cause significant and lasting harm to our communities through fuelling violence, creating an atmosphere of fear and drawing young people into criminality.
“These new powers will help police and local authorities tackle local gang problems by placing tough conditions on the behaviour of individuals involved in gang-related violence and providing strong support to those who want to leave violent gangs.”
The Home Office said individuals involved in gang-related violence would still be prosecuted under criminal law if there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to do so.
