Gang teens 'need child protection'

Children at risk of joining gangs should be put on a child protection register, according to Britain's most senior police officer.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said youngsters with an older sibling involved in the activity should be considered vulnerable.

His comments follow a Scotland Yard report which says there are at least 171 street gangs in London.

"The solution to the problems of youth violence go far wider than policing," said Sir Ian.

"There is a need to think outside the box. While the response of the Metropolitan Police and other forces will be extremely robust around youth violence when it is committed, we should also be thinking about how to stop children drifting into these gangs.

"One of the ideas I have asked to be explored is that where an older sibling is clearly involved in gang activity, the right way forward is that there should be a child protection approach for any younger sibling who is clearly at risk of moving into a lifestyle which is extremely dangerous to that child."

Since January there have been seven teenage murders in London related to gang violence.

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