Line 18: Face to face investigating London's 'gang life'
Sky's reporter meets members from two gangs who reveal their motivations for joining and the dangers of life on the street.
Wednesday 10 April 2019 17:58, UK
As a young girl who grew up in south London, gang violence is something I’ve had to get used to.
I’ve never been directly involved or affiliated myself, but I’ve witnessed how brutal "gang life" can be.
I’ve always wanted to know why someone would choose to join a gang. Surely they know it won’t end well? And if they do make that decision, can they ever go back?
At the start of this year there seemed to be a never-ending stream of murders in the capital, so I set out on a journey to find out why - and I wanted to ask the people directly involved.
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The first gang member I spoke to was a guy called JC, who belonged to 410 in Brixton.
He showed up wearing a stab vest. At first I thought it was for show but when I looked closer I saw loads of marks where people had tried to stab him.
He said he wore it every time he left the house and without it, he’d be dead by now. He said he can’t leave his estate without being targeted. "People know my face," he shrugged.
I left JC with a feeling of hopelessness. It was clear there was no way out for him. But at least he’s still alive. Many of his friends are either dead or in jail.
In our conversation, I didn’t really learn much about why someone would join a gang. So, hungry to find out, I got in touch with another gang.
I arranged to meet the Woolwich Boys, believed to control the drugs supply in southeast London. Their reputation is fierce.
Eventually I was introduced to a guy named K1. Spending time with him, it was clear he had the respect of the rest of the gang, and they listened to what he said.
The thing was, at 19, this guy was the same age as me.
He had charisma, he was funny and spoke with authority. It was clear to me he could have succeeded on a different path.
He said he joined a gang for the easy money and that he had chosen that lifestyle.
K said he liked the "nice cars, nice clothes, nice girls" and that he didn’t like the idea of someone calling him to ask "why are you not at work today?"
When I set out on this journey I believed that young men join gangs because of a lack of opportunities. After spending weeks speaking to them, my view dramatically changed.
It’s clear to me now that the temptation of easy money and what they believe is an exciting lifestyle is too much to resist.
The interesting thing is some of them regret that decision and now want to leave - but they don’t know where to start.
The only thing for certain is that if someone makes that decision to join a gang, it’s going to be very difficult to go back.
:: Line 18 is a journey through modern Britain in 2018. It runs the length of the UK from Northern Ireland into Scotland, passing through Lancashire, Manchester, the West Midlands, London and Essex.
It will examine the divides and fractures in society through the voices of those affected and backed up by data which shines a new light on how Britain is changing.