The Gangs Matrix was set up to provide the government with some clarity on the extent of gang activity in London and it provided the Metropolitan Police with a risk-assessment tool to assess and rank suspected gang members. Amnesty International's research shows that the Gangs Matrix is based on a vague and ill-defined concept of ‘the gang’ that has little objective meaning and is applied inconsistently in different London boroughs. Not only does this data collection amount to an interference with young people’s rights, but the consequences on these individuals and their families could be serious. Data sharing between the police and other government agencies means that this stigmatising ‘red flag’ can follow people in their interaction with service providers, from housing to education, to job centres.
These infographics were part of the report examining the impact of the Gangs Matrix.
