Enfield Council secures only the third gang injunction in the country

The London Borough of Enfield is understood to have become only the third local authority in the country to obtain a gang injunction since the relevant legislation came into force in January this year.

Gang injunctions – or ‘gangbos’ – were introduced under Part IV of the Policing and Crime Act 2009.

Enfield Council was granted a ‘without notice’ interim order against DM in April. DM was a gang member affiliated to a number of gangs in north London going by names such as ‘Shankstarz’, ‘Young Dem Africans’ and ‘Camp’ and known locally as the ‘Green Gang’ by virtue of the colour they wear.

The gang injunction banned DM from his turf and prevented him from wearing his gang colour.

It also prohibited him from featuring in any audio or visual material that is uploaded onto the internet which is of a threatening nature or makes reference to gang affiliations.

A final order was made on 5 May 2011. Enfield has successfully prosecuted a breach of the order.

Kuljit Bhogal of 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square was counsel to Enfield on the gang injunction and the subsequent prosecution of the breaches.

The first gang injunction was brought by the London Borough of Southwark in February. An 18-year-old man was alleged to have been a member of the Anti GMG gang and had been seen celebrating gang culture on videos uploaded to You Tube.

The other gang injunction is believed to have applied to an individual in Hackney.