Pakistani Gangs in Bradford

Abstract

Despite the media coverage and the growing interest in ‘gangs’, there is little empirical literature on gangs in the UK and even fewer on gangs from minority ethnic communities, particularly those from the Pakistani community. The disturbances in Bradford in 1995 and more recently in 2001 point to street gang formation among young Pakistanis, which are diverse in their nature and in activities. This article explores the activities and causes of Pakistani gangs as perceived by non-gang members. These issues were explored through empirical research (in-depth semi-structured interviews) on the experience and views of young Pakistani children using a particular context as an example.