‘I’ve never been more dangerous than when I was 14’: an ex-member of Scotland’s teen gangs fights back

Graeme Armstrong, a 21-year-old man, was faced with three potential outcomes in his life: going to prison, dying, or redemption. He hit a critical moment in his life on Christmas Day in 2012 when he "just wasn't coping" due to his use of drugs as a coping mechanism and prior trauma from the loss of close friends. Armstrong recounts his friends' actions of committing suicide, killing others, or overdosing as traumatic experiences that impacted his life deeply. Armstrong found himself in a moment of desperation and prayed for guidance. From his faith, he was able to start turning his life around.

Armstrong grew up in Airdrie, a small town located 12 miles to the east of Glasgow. He was fascinated by the violent lifestyle of street gangs, also called "young teams" in Scotland. By the age of 16, Armstrong had already acquired 15 criminal charges. He admits that he was most dangerous when he was only 14. The statements above have been rephrased in simpler language.

After Armstrong stopped breaking the law, he obtained a master's degree and transformed his experiences of violence, narcotics, death, and life on the streets into a 2020 bestseller and award-winning book titled The Young Team. In Street Gangs, Armstrong uses his own life story to reflect on the current situation in Scotland with regards to a surge in violent young gangs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee. This is a cause for worry for not only Armstrong, but also for community members, educators, and leaders. The scenes being witnessed are unfamiliar and have not been observed for quite some time.

Teenagers as young as 14 are found on the streets wearing balaclavas and carrying huge knives. They drink and take drugs and engage in fights, which are often shared on social media. A fresh wave of teen gangs is emerging and they are absorbing “new cultural influences such as gang symbols that we would typically relate to places like LA,” Armstrong states. “This is adding to the issues already faced by Scotland such as social disadvantage, poverty, high cost of living – it’s a series of crises that are worsening.”

Armstrong is involved in a lot of work to help and support local communities and schools throughout Scotland. Because of this, he has had direct experience with the changes happening in these areas. Armstrong has observed that some gang names that haven't been heard of in years are now becoming popular again. This is evident through the fresh graffiti being sprayed, marking the return of these gangs. People in Scotland may think that gang violence is no longer a problem and that it has been solved. Armstrong disagrees with this idea, and believes that gang violence can never be completely solved, but can only be managed. A few years ago there was a massive outbreak of gang violence, which Armstrong and his colleagues were involved in, during the peak of violence in 2005. Glasgow was known as the murder capital of Europe at the time. The area was completely immersed in gang violence. But then, the figures began to decline and show a decrease in gang violence. However, since 2014, there has been a steady rise in gang violence with no end in sight. The only thing that has stopped the increase was the arrival of Covid.

The period of confinement due to Covid-19 may have interrupted the activity of gangs, but it could have also contributed to a surge in post-lockdown gang activity. During this time, some young people entered lockdown as children and emerged as teenagers who were full of energy and frustration, lacked social interaction with their peers, and experienced a rush of hormones. According to Armstrong, "Some of these kids were suddenly thrown into their third year of high school, which is when serious violence and substance abuse typically start to appear. Teachers only have one more chance to interact with these students before they can leave school at the age of 16."

The TV show also examines the impact of online networking sites, melodic impacts, for example, drill, and absence of family security which are all factors that are connected to street groups. But, as Armstrong found out, the increase in young gangs is not straightforward or easy to classify. "I don't believe that a single individual or institution can discover all the solutions," he says. "It's a cycle. These things rise and fall, but sadly, it seems that we are currently on the rise."

Armstrong met up with Peter Mullan, a 63-year-old award-winning actor who was part of a street gang in Scotland, to highlight the long history of street gangs in the country. Mullan wrote and directed the 2010 film Neds, which is based on his experiences in the gang. According to Mullan, the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a gang is what attracts people to it. He joined a gang after being rejected by a friend from a wealthy area, and he believes that being the younger brother of someone with a reputation helped him gain entry. Despite being part of the gang, Mullan describes himself as a "tourist" and a "wanker," saying that he mainly talked a big game.

Armstrong believes that we must understand the place of young groups in Scottish history to truly grasp the appeal of gangs. He usually starts by giving a brief history of gangs when he talks to students. The names created by gang members decades ago are still in use even today. This shows that gangs are deeply rooted in Scottish heritage, and we should not underestimate their significance. Even though the fashion and uniforms may change, there is still difficult social living in Scotland due to deprivation and limited opportunities. Scotland has always been a breeding ground for gangs, and this is unlikely to change.

The focal point of the series is the absence of chances and optimism, which is a recurring theme. Armstrong acknowledges that there is an abundance of anguish amongst the youth. Their path towards progress seems bleak and uncertain, causing a sense of despair which is clearly evident. Armstrong had discussions with aspiring rappers regarding their plans and future aspirations, and he discovered that there was very little to report.

In a moving moment, Armstrong pays a visit to his old high school teacher, who believed in him when hardly anyone else did. Armstrong reflects on his journey, remembering that he was kicked out of school before and had a rebellious attitude. However, his former teacher had a special ability to see beyond that. He recognized the potential inside Armstrong that was not immediately apparent to others. Armstrong values this memory and uses it when he speaks to students now.

Armstrong still holds hope for the communities he visits, even though he often experiences a feeling of "palpable hopelessness". He believes that there is an abundance of talent in these areas. The challenge lies in helping young people harness their talent, ambition, and roadmap their way to success. While success may not be easy to measure, consistent effort within the community can have a significant impact and change lives.

Now available on BBC iPlayer is the documentary titled "Street Gangs".