Teachers urged to watch out for gangs

[The Streets Don't Love You Back]

Teachers urged to watch out for gangs

Teachers should look out for signs of gang activity such as pupils wearing stab vests, dressing alike or using different nicknames, according to new advice for schools.Teachers should look out for signs of gang activity such as pupils wearing stab vests, dressing alike or using different nicknames, according to new advice for schools.

The toolkit, published by the NASUWT teaching union, gives advice on how to crack down on gangs and youth violence.

It includes a list of signs to watch out for to spot teenage gang members.

These include pupils using graffiti "tags" on belongings, or walls; students wearing the same colours or clothing, such as bandanas, or beginning to use the same hand signals or slang words.

Some pupils may start to come to school carrying knives, or wearing stab vests, it says.

The online toolkit, called Keeping Every Child Safe, also warns teachers to be on the lookout for students suddenly dropping old friends to take up with a new group, or changing their behaviour. It urges schools to work with services in their communities, such as the police, to tackle gang activity.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: "The majority of schools are not directly affected by gang cultures, but the reality for a small number of young people is that they are leading lives blighted by gangs, criminality, violence and bullying.

"All schools need to be able to recognise gang-related problems and know what to do if these issues arise."

She added: "Gang cultures have their roots outside the school gates and it is important that schools recognise the rivalries and tensions that might exist between young people in their local areas..THINK