CASE STUDIES
JAMIE
Jamie started getting into trouble at the age of 12, hanging around watching older boys from his scheme fight rival gangs, occasionally flinging bricks from the back of the scrum. Gradually, he moved from the back to the front, began carrying a knife and looking to use it.
As the child of drug using parents, Jamie came to see the gang as his true family, a family where loyalty was everything but there was no sense of right or wrong.
Aged 15, he began dealing drugs to support himself and his brother. Not long after he was expelled from school for being violent towards a teacher. At that point, he began using guns to defend himself as part of a long running gang feud.
Blamed by the gang for stealing something he hadn't, Jamie felt so rejected by his "family" that when a hitman pulled a gun on him, he told him to pull the trigger. He didn't shoot, but Jamie didn't see this good luck as a second chance. He got worse. Determined to provide for himself and his brother, he became increasingly violent until, at the age of 17, he was sent to prison for seven years on a firearms offence.
He served three and a half years, and while still involved in fights and drugs, he slowly came to realise what was right and what was wrong through a series of anger management and drugs courses as well as diversionary activities like football. On his release, he got involved with the Bambury Centre and through them with CIRV, even speaking to other gang members at one of the self referral sessions. Now drug-free and a father himself, he feels his future is at last a bright one: "If I hadn't changed, I'd probably be dead. I know I wouldn't be anywhere I want to be."
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Ross
Ross has been both an offender and a victim of violence. Aged 16, he and a group of friends started a fight with members of a rival gang. On this occasion, Ross came off worse. He did not report the incident, preferring to resolve the matter himself, leading to an attempt murder charge for which he spent time in Polmont.
His involvement in gang violence started early: by the age of ten, he was hanging around on the edge of the gang his brother and cousin were involved in. At 12 he was carrying a knife. At 14, he was expelled from school for knife carrying.
Approached by CIRV following his release from Polmont, Ross is now keen to make a change in his life. Following help and advice from Careers Scotland, he is actively looking for work and has been interviewed for a couple of jobs.
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Chris
Growing up in a chaotic household, Chris's violent behaviour began when his father died not long after his eighth birthday. Frequently suspended from school for being violent towards other pupils, he also began being violent towards his family, resulting in several placements with foster carers.
By the age of 13, Chris was a fully fledged gang member, drinking regularly and getting involved in violent activity.
Now 17, he was approached by CIRV after his mother called asking for more information. Initially wary, he began engaging with the team after taking part in football diversionary activities. He is now undergoing an anger management course and working towards gaining employment.
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NB: all names have been changed