Community Life

Walthamstow born Professor Pitts was approached by the Council to help paint an accurate image of the prevailing gang culture in the borough.

Concerned headteachers, police and council officers got together to hear the findings of the Professor who revealed almost 700 young people were in gangs, most of who were between the ages of 10 and 29.

The illegal Narcotics trade was most to blame he said, with territorial and 'respect' issues following closely behind. 

19-year-old Jason Dolphin was a member of a Leyton gang. He says it's easy to get caught up in it all:

"In your mind you feel like you want to be positive [and] get out of it, but when you grow up on an estate everyday and you're with the same people who are influencing you in the same way, it blocks your mind."

Prof. John Pitts

Professor John Pitts calls youngsters like Jason "reluctant" gangsters. He says people need to realise sometimes the locality is the reason people fall into a life of crime and not necessarily because they're a particular sort of person. He also says it's unfair to point fingers at parents in such situations. One parent said to him:

"I ask you to take your children into the jungle and then make you responsible for making sure they don’t get eaten."

Jason Dolphin found his way out and is now a part of an organisation called Rollin G. The group is led by local youngsters from the borough and hopes to encourage others out of a life of crime too.

Your thoughts welcome email: ramaa.sharma@bbc.co.uk