Funding is needed to help stop gang violence towards women charity calls

Violence and aggressive attitudes against women by young men needs to be challenged, a charity is calling.

Boys and young men need support to help them understand the effect their violent behaviour has on women, says young people’s charity Catch22.

Findings in a new report by Race on the Agenda – This is it. This is my life: the Female Voice in Violence – looked at the impact ‘serious’ youth violence and criminal gangs had on women and girls across the country.

Head of Catch22’s gang unit, Tom Sackville says: “It is clear that many young men and boys don’t see themselves as being responsible for placing girls and young women in violent situations. Our research shows that often young men feel they have no choice over getting involved with a gang, whereas they believe young women do. A common view was that young women exercise that choice through the relationships they choose.”

“Some girls like the thug love…They’re attracted to the actual whole lifestyle…like the thug lifestyle and the adrenalin that comes with it,” was one of the comments that came up in a series of focus groups Catch22 held around the country.

Women were found to be at risk by association, being the closest ‘thing’ belonging to a rival gang member.

Catch22 is calling for funding to help tackle the attitudes of males involved in criminal gangs and their violence towards females.