The social media weapon

Before the current lockdown in March, criminal practitioners were anticipating the publication of CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) guidance on the use of social media and the glamorisation of gang lifestyle and the use of weapons. There may now be a longer than anticipated wait.

The guidance is intended to help build the strongest possible case for prosecution by giving practical advice on gathering robust evidence to be put before the court. Social media content showing young people carrying weapons, or designed to highlight and promote violence will be used as evidence for the prosecution. Additionally, the guidance will cover an examination of tactics used by county lines gangs in recruitment of vulnerable victims and the increase in the number of girls who become involved in gang-related offending. Though there are no official statistics relating to the prevalence of gang-related offending, figures from police recorded crime data for the year ending September 2019 showed a 7% rise in