GANGS RULE THE ROOST

HACKNEY is plagued by more gangs than anywhere else in the capital, according to a leaked police report.

A total of 22 gangs have been identified - almost double the number of the next ranked borough, Enfield, with 13.

The figures were taken from an unpublished report by the Metropolitan Police identifying 169 gangs across the capital, more than a quarter of which have been involved in murders.

More than a fifth of youth crime in London is committed by gangs, according to the report.

Even south London, where three 15-year-olds were recently shot dead in separate incidents, doesn't have as major a problem with gangs as Hackney

Gangs with names such as The London Fields Crew, The Love and Money Crew, The Hoxton Boys, and Haggerston Fields Combine have gained notoriety in parts of Hackney.

Other gangs that operate in Hackney take their names from the estates or neighbourhoods where they live and include Pembury Boys, Lordship, Smalley, Holly Street, Ballance, Mother's Square, DNA, LOS, Red Pitch, SOS, Manor House Boys, Stamford Hill Boys and Springfield.

A gang called The E5th Ridaz, who used to control Lower Clapton's Pembury Estate, hit the headlines last October when it was revealed that they had been producing their own home-made music videos to encourage attacks on rival gangs.

Chief Supt Steve Dann, Hackney's Borough Commander, said police were working hard to tackle gang warfare.

"Hackney police are involved in a range of activities and initiatives, from dedicated enforcement through to the work of Safer Neighbourhoods teams.

"We already have Safer Schools officers based in our secondary schools borough-wide, and they play an important role in gathering intelligence on gang-related activity which can then be acted on by borough officers or specialist teams if necessary."

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