C’ttee gives view oft gang formation

Press, 14 May 1981, Page 9

C’ttee gives view oft gang formation

PA Wellington Gangs appear to be almost entirely a lower-class phenomenon and their members commonly come from homes where families have broken up and alienation has occurred, according to the Government’s committee on gangs. Discussing in its report the social factors leading to the formation of gangs, it says that both parents of gang members often work or there is a solo parent only. Gang members’ ages range from 14 to 28.

The committee says, “The child senses that the values in society are ones that his parents haven’t succeeded at and often the child’s family and neighbourhood background does not give access to the legitimate channels of success so that actual or anticipated failure in a conventionally valued area, such as education, leads to hostility to authority and control, potential for violence, and an exploitive attitude to social relations.”

It says that before somebody becomes a member of a gang there is frequently a pre-gang phase involving tru-

ancy, some criminal offending, and a lack of legitimate income from employment. Views differ on whether gangs actively recruit or just passively attract new members.

The committee says, “It is known that recruitment or attraction to gangs takes place in schools, on the street, and in prison. Gangs often form around common recreational interests such as cars, motor bikes, or music.” The committee says that where gang organisation exists there is a leadership “elite,” a number of lay members, and a number of “hangers-on.” Some older groups also attract a “junior gang” aspiring to exist alongside and affiliate to the main gang.

The committee says that while gang members are exclusively male a significant number of gangs incorporate women as girlfriends and wives of members and the more established gangs incorporate married couples with children into their structure.

It says that the more cohesive groups have ritualised initiation ceremonies

and demand strong loyalty to the group. “Some evidence was presented to the committee that initiation ceremonies may cause some criminal offending. There is a perception problem here because the younger, newer members may commit excessive and unlawful acts to impress those they see as the tougher and older gang members.” The committee says that it is often difficult for members to leave a gang because the act of leaving often means violence from the gang. It says that studies show that gang members are often employed but that they do not hold jobs for long. “At the present time gang members’ type of dress, low skills, and educational attainment does not make them particularly marketable for private individual employment. But many gangs, especially Polynesian ones, enjoy working together and it is clear that gangs doing meaningful contract work, rather than temporary work such as scrub-cutting, are more motivated and harder working.”