The Home Office defines a street gang as a durable, predominantly street-based group of young people who see themselves (and are seen by others) as a discernible group, and engage in a range of criminal activity and violence”. But the term ‘gang’ is contentious. Youths will use this terminology because that's what they have been told they are. But there is little order or structure to a lot of these ‘gangs’. They are not ‘a discernible group’, being highly transient, having few rules or regulations. However a minority do fulfill their description, and it is from these small groups that the violence and criminality stem.

The Windrush scandal has caused the issue of cultural identity to resurface, and for many of London’s minority youth, they don’t know who they are or where they fit in. This generation face an identity crisis, they do not feel part of British society, and nor do they feel like they belong at home where their grandparents or great-grandparents came from.

AccessUK is a charity for BME youth in London, and their director, Nana Agyeman, has seen the effect this crisis is having. “If you don't feel like a part of the society in terms of finding a job and just getting on in life - you are stuck in a limbo. That lack of self worth and value translates into the streets, because If you have no value for yourself, what is going to stop you from hurting another human being?” Because of this feeling of worthlessness, these youth feel that they have no stake in the community and they feel that they have nothing to lose by engaging in gang culture.

Gangs offer feeling of belonging, something which their members are maybe lacking. “Gangs provide many adolescents and young adults with a sense of belonging and purpose, and can add structure to their lives,” says Dr Vas Sivarajasingam, Director at the National Violence Surveillance Network. “The gangs have also been viewed as possible replacement for family.”

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“It is clear they don't have the self respect to actually believe they can do anything else.” says Patrick Green of the Ben Kinsella Trust. “A crippling sense of low self esteem is driving kids towards gang-life.” This absence of self belief goes hand-in-hand with a lack of opportunities for many young people, with London having the second highest youth unemployment rate in the United Kingdom. Over 70,000 people aged 16-24 were out of work or education in the capital at the end of March 2018.

The lack of opportunities and self esteem is further amplified by a lack of recognisable role models, especially for young black males, Mr Agyeman says. “The role models are there but they are not visible, they will do talks but in prestigious places, like university or parliament. But that isn't reaching the people it really needs to.” This plays directly into the hands of gang members looking to recruit young new members, with children able to make up to a thousand pounds a week running and selling drugs.