Rise in youth unemployment could provided opening for gang recruitment across Yorkshire

Rising levels of youth unemployment due to the Covid-19 pandemic could provide an opening for gang recruitment in Yorkshire, a leading police figure has warned.
There are fears that levels of youth unemployment due to the Covid-19 pandemic could provide an opening for gang recruitment across Yorkshire.There are fears that levels of youth unemployment due to the Covid-19 pandemic could provide an opening for gang recruitment across Yorkshire.
There are fears that levels of youth unemployment due to the Covid-19 pandemic could provide an opening for gang recruitment across Yorkshire.

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings has expressed his concerns for young people living in South Yorkshire if unemployment levels rise further.

He said: “Many young people are at a critical milestone in life – leaving school, college or university. They may leave without a job and find themselves for a period of time with little money.

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"This can easily become a longer term and more deep-rooted issue as South Yorkshire is not a wealthy part of the country. South Yorkshire was among the poorest parts of the old European Union."

Dr Billings said that police budget cuts during 2010 and 2020, which saw a reduction of 500 police officers across South Yorkshire , saw organised crime groups take advantage and extend their operations, drawing in young people.

He said: "They started grooming young people for criminal purposes, targeting young males with no job and poor prospects, an easy target.

"The gangs befriended them and used them to transport drugs. It looked like easy money but it led to deeper involvement in the drugs market. Young people began to be used to extend the gangs’ activities out of the towns and city and across county lines.”

The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner fears that this could happen again if opportunities for young people continue to shrink.