Girls and gangs: 'Shemale' gangsters in the UK?

In recent years there have been a number of high profile stories reporting increasing levels of female involvement in group related crime. According to these reports teenage girls are no longer spectators hovering on the periphery of street gangs but are hard core members actively engaging in the kind of extreme violence that is usually the preserve of men. As girl 'gangsters', young women are seen to be engaging in a wide range of crimes such as robbery, rape and murder. Using findings from an empirical study on young people's use of weapons and involvement in street based groups, this article examines female involvement in 'gangs' and their violent behaviour. It challenges the dominant stereotype of girl 'gangsters' as malicious violent aggressors. The notion of the gang and implications for policy and practice will also be considered.