Courts are using gang injunctions in Ipswich and elsewhere in Suffolk in a bid to crackdown on young people being associated with gangs.
Ipswich Crown Court resident Judge, Martyn Levett said gang injunctions were a direct response to gang problems and it was hoped they would act as a deterrent against teenagers joining gangs or becoming involved in gang related violence and drug dealing.
“Communicating this information may increase community confidence in local justice and inspire the public that the Criminal Justice system works for them.
“It may have the effect of silencing those critics who talk Ipswich down as being a den of violent offenders for which no law can stop the outbreaks of public order violence, drug dealing, or violent crimes including murder and other serious assaults,” said the judge.
Judge Levett made his comments after dismissing an appeal by a 17-year-old youth against an Interim Gang Injunction made by local magistrates in April.
A full application for the Gang Injunction is due to be heard by magistrates at a hearing on August 2.
Judge Levett said the Interim order included a geographical exclusion, a ban on the youth associating with named individuals and a prohibition from encouraging violence and drug dealing.
It also restricted the youth to being in possession of a limited amount of cash as well as one phone and one SIM.
Judge Levett said he’d read a chronology of criminal activities alleged against the youth and background material about gang-related activities set out in statements by a number of police officers.
“Together this material provides a compelling conclusion that at least two gangs operate in the Ipswich area and like other organised crime groups, they are not organised to a point of discipline but have random offshoots engaged in satellite criminal activities."
He said the youth had previously been arrested when 100 wraps of drugs and £2,000 cash were found together with evidence of gang-related violence, such as Zombie knives, digital scales and other drug supply paraphernalia.
Judge Levett said he was satisfied with evidence that the youth had strong connections to a drug syndicate and that he had control over a gang related drug line which supplied drugs in Ipswich using exploited runners.
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