GIRLS – not just boys – are increasingly involved in knife crime in Croydon.
But Junior Smart, from the threatened anti-youth crime organisation the SOS Project, says it is for very different reasons.
"Boys join gangs for materialistic reasons – the money and the cars," he said.
"For girls, it's much more intrinsic. With them it's more because they are at risk or vulnerable to it because boyfriends or male family members are involved.
"If a male gang member is using their home to stash drugs or weapons, the whole family, including very young kids, are vulnerable.
"When a gang member is identified, or goes to prison, we can help with the bigger picture and the fallout of gang crime."
Antonia Ejoh, a former offender who now mentors young people in Croydon, said she had a client who had been bullied at school. She made herself "tougher" to protect herself against attackers.
"She became the kind of girl who could have a fight with a boy and stand her ground. Her reputation grew and she got in with a gang and started recruiting other girls," she said.
"They could fight with weapons, carry weapons for others and got involved in robberies too."
Chris Douglas, another SOS case worker, said many girls were vulnerable to being attracted to the "bad boys" who would ask them to hide drugs or weapons at their homes.
"They might put up a fight initially but it doesn't often last long," he said.
Junior also emphasised that boys may be groomed for gangs but it was only girls who were ever sexually exploited by them.
The SOS Project helps rehabilitate offenders leaving prison and works with schools to warn children of the dangers of getting involved in youth crime.
However, with the project's funding stream drying up it may be forced to leave Croydon.
In the light of the recent spate of teen stabbings, the Advertiser believes the SOS Project is needed in Croydon more than ever. That is why this week we launched an appeal to keep them in the borough.How to help
TO donate to the SOS Project, visit www.stgilestrust.org.uk and click on the donate button at the top left hand side of the screen. Please specify 'For SOS Project Croydon' in the message space. Alternatively call 020 7708 8000.
Any business interested in supporting the project can email junior.smart@stgilestrust.org.uk.
