NCJ Number
240134
Date Published
December 2011
Length
75 pages
Annotation
This British publication provides statutory guidance on how to use injunctions to prevent gang-related violence.
Abstract
Britain's Policing and Crime Act 2009 contains provision for injunctions against an individual to prevent that person from engaging in gang-related violence. The Crime and Security Act 2010 contains provisions for breach of an injunction to be enforced against 14-17 year-olds. By imposing a range of prohibitions and requirements on the target of the injunction (the respondent), the gang-related injunction can prevent the respondent from engaging in, encouraging, or assisting in gang-related violence and/or protecting the respondent from gang-related violence. Over the medium and longer term, gang injunctions aim to thwart violent gang culture, prevent the violent behavior of gang members from escalating, and engage gang members in positive activities that help them leave a gang. The guidance provided by this publication is intended to assist local authorities and police forces in applying for an injunction intended to prevent gang-related violence. In addition, it guides local partners who may be consulted by the applicant for the gang-related injunction. Such guidance is needed because applicants may have difficulty in satisfying the court that the respondent has been involved in gang-related violence, which is necessary for obtaining a gang-related injunction. The issues addressed in this publication include which groups are not suitable for gang injunctions, who can apply for a gang injunction, how "with-notice" and "without-notice" applications differ, the prohibitions and requirements that gang injunctions impose, and how gang injunctions fit with other measures for countering gangs. In addition to these practical issues in applying for an injunction, guidance is provided on collecting evidence of an individual's gang associations. Appended relevant legislative provisions and protocols