When considering gang-related activity we need to distinguish between:

• Peer group
  A relatively small and transient social grouping which may or may not describe itself as a gang depending on the context
• Street gang
  Groups of young people who see themselves (and are seen by others) as a discernible group for whom crime and violence is integral to the group’s identity
• Organised criminal gangs
  A group of individuals for whom involvement in crime is for personal gain (financial or otherwise). For most crime is their ‘occupation.

Gang-related activity and county lines have significant overlap, however, there can also be overlap with other forms of abuse and exploitation. Serious youth crime and violence is addressed in the Home Office Serious Violence Strategy and the guidance Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines