Gangs of 'feral' youths bringing terror to streets
By Patrick Sawer, Evening standard

The attacks of a 20-strong " steaming" gang that preyed on commuters underlines the surge in muggings and violence in London depicted in the British Crime Survey.

The gang, whose youngest member was 13, attacked up to 80 victims over four months, targeting night buses and early morning commuter trains.

The mob, which included two girls, attacked passengers and systematically robbed them. They were caught in a police operation involving 250 officers and have all now been found guilty at Harrow Crown Court of conspiracy to rob.

Officers involved in the case told of how the gang's attacks illustrated a problem more evident in the capital, with large numbers of youths out of control on the streets and using public transport to terrorise innocent people.

London also suffers from large numbers of young people binge drinking and running amok on its high streets. This has led the Met to launch Operation Optic, in a bid to tackle drinkfuelled violence.

Studies have shown that alcohol is a factor in almost half (47 per cent) of violent crimes, accounting for about 75,000 violent incidents nationwide every year. In London the number rose by eight per cent to 30,000.

Fewer than one in 10 street robberies are cleared up.

In an effort to bring down crime levels, Scotland Yard has recruited 4,000 more officers over the past four years.
Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens has launched a number of initiatives in the face of mounting public concern over crime levels.

Civilians have been hired by local authorities and trained in law and self defence, patrolling streets, housing estates and shopping areas in a bid to identify criminal and anti-social behaviour.

"I believe it is time to embrace the notion of community patrol - an extension of neighbourhood wardens," he said. "Properly managed, with appropriate safeguards, this will work."

"There is no doubt citizens have a role to play as part of overall community safety strategies ... this is the future. We must not resist. People are increasingly using services which we must ensure complement, not conflict with mainstream police activity."