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Murder

Gang Dynamics in Birmingham: A Shift from Traditional Organizations to Children Rep'ing Postcodes

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A gang expert has revealed that the traditional gangs in Birmingham, such as the Burger Bar Boys and Johnson Crew, have largely dissipated, replaced by children affiliating themselves with postcode areas. PC Gareth Evans, who has worked on gangs for West Midlands Police since 2010, testified in the murder trial of Sekou Doucoure that young people are unaware of the historical context of these opposing gangs and instead identify with specific postcodes. This shift highlights the changing nature of gang dynamics in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Burger Bar Boys and Johnson Crew, once prominent gangs in north Birmingham, have largely ceased to exist.
  • Children have taken their place, affiliating themselves with postcode areas as a means of identity and affiliation.
  • PC Evans attributed this shift to the lack of knowledge among young people regarding the historical context of the opposing gangs.
  • The gangs have largely morphed into peer groups, with individuals from different areas affiliating themselves with opposing postcodes.
  • The primary members of the Burger Bar Boys and Johnson Crew have been jailed, and many are getting older.
  • Online platforms, such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, have become more prevalent in gang rivalries and identity.
  • The multi-agency gangs unit (MAGU) has been working to combat gang-related activity in the region.
  • PC Evans has been involved in force intelligence in relation to gang-related social media since 2017.

Statistics:

  • The trial has shown a map of north Birmingham, primarily divided into red and blue colour-coded areas, representing territory associated with different gangs.
  • The red area, covering postcode areas B21 Handsworth and B18 Hockley and Winson Green, is associated with the Burger Bar Boys and Armed Response (AR) gangs.
  • The blue area, covering postcode areas B19 Newtown and B6 Aston, is associated with the Johnson Crew and 9Boyz.

Sources:

  • Birmingham Crown Court
  • West Midlands Police
  • PC Gareth Evans (giving evidence in the murder trial of Sekou Doucoure)
  • Birmingham Mail
  • MailOnline
  • Independent

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