Yorkshire & Lincolnshire

Burngreave is a bustling multicultural centre to the north of the city.

It’s where the postcode S3 meets S4, and, we’re told that for a minority, it’s the unofficial demarcation between rival gangs.

Tarek Chaiboub: died after being shot

Tarek Chaiboub

In July 2008, 17-year-old Tarek Chaiboub was shot in a barber's shop in Burngreave and staggered out into the street to die.

It was a week after he was stabbed in a separate incident.

Known locally as Terror Kid or GT, he posted pictures and videos about guns and crime on the internet. But his father says that people have the wrong impression of Tarek and insists he wasn’t part of a gang.

Despite an extensive police investigation and ten arrests, to date, no-one has been charged with Tarek’s murder.

Postcode gangs

Inside Out tracked down someone who says he was in a postcode gang for a number of years and knew Tarek Chaiboub well.

He explained why he’d got involved with gangs…

Talking to former gang members

"It’s not even about I wanted to be in it. 

"If you’re not in it then people look down on you and think, oh, this guy is weak, this guy can't fight, or this guy's got no guts, no pride, so it’s just one of those, doing it for doing it."

And, he says, being in a gang can be extremely dangerous

"You’re losing your life, it’s easily done, and that’s the most dangerous thing, it’s losing your life.

"It’s real dangerous."

What he tells Inside Out, fits in with some of the latest thinking about gangs… They’re disorganised, lack any clear structure or membership and are generally only involved in low levels of crime.

What’s being done?

Inside Out contacted Sheffield City Council, which has a gang steering group looking at the issue.

Officially they said they didn’t have time to take part in the programme but unofficially we’ve seen a leaked email asking the group not to talk to us.

It says that media coverage could link Sheffield to the gang issue on a national level.

Inside Out is aware that there are a number of projects underway but we weren’t given permission to film them.

Superintendent Andy Barrs: positive results

Instead we spoke to Superintendent Andy Barrs, the city’s top policeman charged with tackling gangs.

He says they’re getting some good results from the work they’re doing,

"Anyone we consider to be at risk from gang activity, either being bullied into a gang or voluntarily taking part in gang activity, we’re referring those to the Youth Offending Team who will discuss issues with parents, give them support around schooling, around potential relocation to another area, around parental support

"And we’re finding we’re getting a really positive result out of that."

The issue of gangs in Sheffield is a complex one and one that we’re told needs careful handling if there’s to be an end to the guns, gangs, knives and killings.