'Jails must help young rioters to escape the gang lifestyle'

Young gang members jailed over the London riots should be given specialist help to escape the "malign" influence of their criminal leaders, the Government's prison watchdog said today.

Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, said it was vital that teenage rioters caught up in gangs were "kept apart" and protected from other jailed members, to give them a chance to abandon their criminal lifestyle.

He also called on ministers to ensure that gang members were given incentives, including education, training and other constructive activities, that would enable them to lead successful, law-abiding lives after their release.

Mr Hardwick's comments follow the disclosure by Acting Met Commissioner Tim Godwin that up to a quarter of those arrested in London over the riots were gang members.

Prime Minister David Cameron has identified gang involvement as a key factor behind the unrest and promised to wage "all-out war" on their activities. Proposed measures include more robust policing and the introduction of a "National Citizen Service" for all 16-year-olds. Today, Mr Hardwick said prisons should also play a critical role by ensuring that young convicts did not continue their gang membership behind bars because of intimidation or the lack of more positive alternatives.

"It can be very difficult for young people to detach themselves from gangs and say 'I don't want to be part of that', so that needs good interventions by staff so they can make a safe choice," he said.

"The key things are security and intelligence so that you know what's happening and can keep people apart to prevent trouble and malign influence. There also need to be incentives, another way of getting the status and fulfilment by doing constructive things and trying to turn your life around.

"The critical thing is that you intervene with people individually so that you can separate them out from the gang influence and give them a constructive route out."

He spoke amid continuing concern about the size of the prison population, which rose last week to a record high of 86,654 in the wake of the riots.

Ministers 'fail to aid anti-gang scheme'

An innovative project to tackle gangs is struggling to win funding despite the riots.

The scheme in Waltham Forest has won backing from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith - but it needs £1 million and may have to be cut next year. The council accused the Government of failing to support it.

Launched in January, and run in partnership with the Met, the project targets the borough's 30 most dangerous gang members and their families.

They are offered help with issues such as drug addiction, housing, work and training to try to divert them from crime. If they refuse to engage they are warned they will targeted ruthlessly by police.

The council had to make £35 million savings last year but found £3 million for the £4 million project. However, a bid for £1 million Olympic cash to tackle gangs and drugs was rejected.

Council leader Chris Robbins said ministers only took an interest when the issue when it the headlines: "All of a sudden the light bulb has gone on."