Gangs

Being involved in gangs

You might join or get involved in a gang for lots of reasons. You could want protection, money, or to feel like you belong.

Some gangs will want you to do things that are dangerous or illegal, or they might try to pressure you to do things you don’t want to. It can be hard to say no if that’s happening.

If you’re worried about something that’s going on or you don’t think you’re able to get out of a gang, you don’t have to deal with it alone. We’re always here to support you to think about the future.

What is a gang?

A gang can mean lots of different things. Sometimes a criminal gang can involve just a few people working together. Other times, it can be a bigger group of people involved in protecting a territory or other criminal behaviour.

People might be in a gang with people they’re close to, or because they have shared experiences and backgrounds. This isn’t always the case though, and a friend should never pressure or ask you to do something illegal.

What is County Lines?

County lines is when gangs or criminal groups will manipulate, force or trick young people into transporting drugs.

Anyone can be pushed or forced into getting involved in county lines. You might be offered money or things you want, or you might be threatened or told you owe someone money. Whatever’s happening, Childline is here to support you.

Tips to leave a gang:

Make a safety plan in case there’s an emergency
Speak to an adult you trust for support
Try to avoid places where you know you’ll see people
Call or text SafeCall on 116 000 for confidential advice
Speak to the police if you’re being threatened

Pressure to do things

Content warning: This section includes mentions of sexual abuse and violence

Some gangs will pressure you to do things that are illegal, like carry weapons, hold or transport drugs, or get involved in acts of violence. Sometimes you may be pressured into doing something sexual or sending sexual images.

There are a lot of ways you might be pressured, you could be:

told you need to or feel like you have to out of loyalty
offered drugs, money or things you want
told to do something small before doing something bigger
threatened, or be made to think that something bad will happen
told that you need to pay back a debt.

Being in a gang can make it hard to stand up to the pressure to do something, especially when you’ve done things for them before.

There are ways to get support or confidential advice on what you can do. Getting advice is the first step to changing things in the future.

Peer pressure

Get help making your own choices.

Gangs: Carly's story

Carly joined a gang after being bullied at school but things soon became difficult.

Getting support

There are lots of organisations here to support you:

Childline
Childline is here 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Talk to us online or on the phone about anything that’s happening. Find out more about our confidentiality promise.
SafeCall
Call or text Safecall on 116 000 to get free, confidential support if you’re being told to carry drugs or weapons, or you’re involved in a gang. Find out more.
Fearless
Give information about any crime anonymously and without fear of judgement. Find out more.
Police
If you’re worried about your safety, or the safety of anyone else, you can always speak to the police.
People in your life
Remember that anyone that’s working with you is there to support you. You can talk to them or another adult you trust about anything that’s happening.

Worrying about talking

There are lots of reasons you might not want to get support, you might:

Be scared about things getting worse or someone getting hurt
Not trust anyone enough to speak to
Want to deal with it yourself
Think that nothing can be done

The only way to change things is to get the right support to help you and the people around you. If you’re worried about what will happen next, you can speak to us or to Safecall confidentially to talk about your options before you decide anything.

Planning when to talk

It can help to think about the best time to ask for support. If you’ve been taken to a house where drugs are sold, you’re travelling, or you’re alone then it may be a good time to ask for support.

It can help to think about times when you’ll have some privacy, and you know you won’t be disturbed. It can also help to think about how to cover your tracks if you speak online or call.

Safety

Leaving a gang or getting away from crime can sometimes make you unsafe, and it’s important to get the right support to make sure you’re protected.

The police are there to protect you, and organisations like SafeCall can help you to think about the best way to get away safely.

Whatever’s happening, if you’re in immediate danger or you need help straight away, you can call 999 any time.

Gangs and the law

It’s not against the law to be in a gang, but it is a crime to:

carry a knife or other weapon
commit acts of violence or harassment against other people
carry, hold or sell illegal drugs, even when they’re not yours
sexually assault another person
steal or commit theft.

If you’re worried about something you’ve done or you need support, you can speak to a Childline counsellor any time. Childline is a confidential service you can speak to any time. Find out more about our confidentiality.

You can report crimes related to gangs anonymously to Fearless.

Crime

Find out about the law and get support if you've been involved in crime.