The murder rate in London is rising at a concerning rate since the beginning of the year. The rise is thought to be associated with gang activity and rivalry between gangs. Youngsters as young as 13 are getting stabbed and others as young as 14 are committing the acts themselves. The murder rate by stabbings in the city at the end of February has been the highest in six years and higher than that in New York, one of the most violent cities in the world.
The facts are indeed worrying, but what is behind this epidemic? Why are gang activity and violent crimes so attractive and accessible to young people?
On the 21st of March, a young man was stabbed to death in front of Stratford center, two of the man charged had recently just turned 18th birthday. Another stabbing incident happened in Stratford on the 11th of April, but this time the victim’s injuries weren't life-threatening. Although there might not be a connection between both cases, they both happened in the same region.
New home, new habits. Or new home, old habits?
Stratford park is known by young people as the go-to drug destination, where many youngsters go to hang out together, but also carry out illegal activities. The area is said to be mainly frequented by Portuguese men, predominantly black that come from Portugal sometimes as runaways or with family members, in search of a better life. However, instead of fighting for a better life, they fall into the trap of the easy life or end up with the same lifestyle they had back in their original country.
In the first stabbing case previously stated, the perpetrators were both Portuguese.
They are called by the media, as the “Portuguese Mafia”. The group has records for intimidation and antisocial behaviour in and around West Ham Park and Stratford.
What originates these groups?
One of their ex-members, Bruno Tavares explains how he believes that the language barrier and loneliness influences the youngster’s decision on joining the “Portuguese mafia”.
As a member of the European Union, Portuguese citizens can benefit from freedom of movement across Europe. It gives people the right to live, work, study and also retire if they will. But some people use this as a free pass, as a way to run away. Run away from life, responsibilities, but also the law. “Some of the people used to be drug dealers back in Portugal but come to London with the intention of living a rightful life, free from crime” he starts “although because their English is poor they struggle to get a high paid job”.
Living a rightful life has its costs, which is getting paid less, for working harder and some people are not willing to comply with that. “It’s the easiest path, selling drugs gives you in a day, what you would normally get in a month time”.
"Another important thing is the lack of friends. If a youngster comes fresh from Portugal with no friends, they get easily influenced by older gang members” Bruno says: “but it’s not only about the money for the younger boys, it’s for the respect and acknowledgment that they probably wouldn’t get it on their own.”
I decided to Stratford park, and learn more about it from current members.
As soon as I get there, I meet Juranir, a friendly guy who agreed immediately on answering my questions and giving me a video interview. He admits that he has been arrested back in 2013, but that now he aspires to live a lawful life. Juranir was jailed for nine years for his part in a mob attack that left a man near death.
“I was arrested for a stupid mistake, that could have easily been avoided” he explains “but I am done with that now, I only come once in a while to meet my friends”.
For him, the Mafia gave a sense of brotherhood they don't see themselves as a gang, but as a family. As he himself said, “my troops”.
The interview gets interrupted, by two police officer that approach us in search of a
man holding a weapon. They claimed that they had been called to the scene with reports that a young man was waving a knife in a threatening manner. See the video below:
It started off like this:
Ended up:
How easy is it to get into the criminal life?
Keen to find out how these groups are formed I went to the Ringcross community centre, a centre that aims to prevent but also reduce young people’s involvement in gang activities. There I meet Savvas Panas the CEO of the Pillion Trust.
Savvas believes that there are many different factors that determine a youth’s path and his involvement in violent crimes, but in his view, the family environment it's the main key to the problem. “I think that this parental generation is not spending enough time with their children” he claims, “if the child is being guarded by a single parent and they work the child will be left alone’.
The parks used to be considered safe places for young people to, but now there’s been a decline, leaving no other space for teenagers to go except for the streets which is an opportunity for “gang leaders then go offer money, comfort, family, fast-track things".