Gang culture based on drugs and violence has replaced family to become a way of life, a leading chief constable has warned.

Barbara Wilding, the Chief Constable of South Wales, said tribal loyalty had replaced family loyalty in some deprived areas.

She said custody could only provide a short term solution, with policies based primarily on enforcement "set on sand".

Ms Wilding reportedly said: "In many of our larger cities, in areas of extreme deprivation, there are almost feral groups of very angry young people.

"Many have experienced family breakdown, and in place of parental and family role models, the gang culture is now established. Tribal loyalty has replaced family loyalty and gang culture based on violence and drugs is a way of life."

Ms Wilding, a former Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, said the focus should be on tackling the complex social and economic causes that underlie criminal behaviour.

Ms Wilding, who read criminology at London University, was awarded a CBE for services to policing in the Queen's 80th birthday honours list.

In her speech at the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College London she also said disaffected young people were a prime target for terrorist recruiters.

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