Fighting & murder

Other names for fighting include: punch, kick, fight, spit, hit, beat up, slap, batter, hurt, abuse, slash, cut, push, deck, fist.

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Fighting is also called assault and can be as small as touching someone without their consent. You don’t have to be violent to commit assault.

There are a few different types of fighting or assault. You might hear some of them on TV or in movies. We’ve explained what they mean below.

Common assault is when you’re violent towards another person, e.g. hitting them or even spitting on them. If you assault someone like this, you could go to prison for 6 months or be fined up to £5,000.

ABH (Actual Bodily Harm) or assualt is when you injure someone, e.g. kicking them to cause a bruise. If you cause someone actual bodily harm, you could end up in prison for 5 years.

GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm)/serious assault - means you’ve caused someone serious injury, e.g. a broken bone or stabbing. It’s more serious than ABH and so means you could receive a life sentence if found guilty of GBH.

Affray basically means you’re fighting with another person or a group of people. You can receive a 3 year prison sentence if you commit affray.

Violent disorder is the term used when there’s more than one of you being violent or threatening. It comes with a maximum 5 year prison sentence.

If you have information about fighting/assault, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

Other names for murder include: murk, kill, homicide, assassinate.

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Murder is when you kill someone on purpose, e.g. stabbing them. It’s more serious if you plan it and it’s normally confused with manslaughter. Murder carries a maximum life sentence in prison if you’re found guilty.

Manslaughter or culpable homicide is when you kill someone but don’t mean it, e.g. throwing a brick off a bridge, making a car crash and killing the driver. Although not as serious as murder, it’s still very serious and you can get a maximum life sentence if found guilty.

If you have information about murder/manslaughter, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

Many gangs have rival gangs. Gangs can be rivals if they don’t agree with each others principles. For example gangs might be rivals if;

• They are from different schools
• Live in different areas of the UK
• Have different postcodes
• Live on different estates
• Have different religious beliefs

It is often the case that these gangs will meet to fight to prove their status. Although these fights can be pre arranged they can also happen randomly if rival gang members are walking in a rival gang’s territory.

If you have any information about street gang activity, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

As we have explored under the gangs section of the site, there are many reasons for being involved in a criminal street gang. One important reason for many is having respect. If a gang member feels disrespected it is important in their minds to punish those who caused this - this can be as serious as murdering them.

Many of the reports in the media covering reports of teenage stabbings, accuse gang rivalry as the cause of the crime.

If you have any information about street gang murders, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

If you have any information about criminal gangs, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

The Football Industry Group (2005) define it as "disorder involving football fans which sometimes involves criminal activity".

Football hooliganism can become a problem in and around the stadium. It can also become a more serious problem when groups known as 'firms' who support different teams, arrange to meet each other to fight.

A 'firm' is the term used to describe a gang which is formed by supporters of a certain football club. 'Firms' are known to dislike other 'firms' and physically/verbally attack members of other 'firms' in fights they have arranged.

Football hooliganism is known as 'The English Disease', its even existed since the 1880s. It is however more common today, there were 103 incidents of football hooliganism in the UK involving under 19s in the 2009-10 season, compared to the 38 the season before.

It is not something that only happens in the UK, it exists in a number of countries. The UK, along with other countries, have also been known to take part in football hooliganism abroad when International tournaments are going on and their team is playing in another country, like in The World Cup.

Incidents can include:

• Violent and public disorder
• Missile throwing
• Racist chanting
• Pitch invasions
• Alcohol offences
• Offences against property
• Possession of offensive weapons

 There is no specific offence known as football hooliganism, but when the offences above are related to football it is known as football hooliganism.

Football Banning Order - These are designed to stop troublemakers from travelling to football matches, both at home and abroad. Banning orders are given to people who have been found guilty of a football-related offence before. They aim to stop people from further misbehaving.

In 2009-10, 1,025 football banning orders were given out in the UK. The punishments for breaking the rules of these orders can be 6 months in prison or a £5,000 fine.

Since 2000, 92% of those who had been given a football banning order had been assessed as no longer being dangerous with their behaviour at football matches, proving that they work.

There are now more things being done to crack down on football hooliganism. For example, CCTV within football stadiums has been greatly increased.

Whilst this helps to lower the amount football hooliganism, there are now more obstacles to overcome. For example, English 'hooligans' have now been known to use internet forums, mobile phones, and text messages to set up fight meetings or to wind up rival gangs.

Football hooliganism is not just one thing, meaning that it does not always happen for the same reasons. Some reasons for people taking part in football hooliganism could be:

• They are very passionate about their football team and take it as a personal insult when others speak against them, causing them to react.
• It might just be explained as 'having nothing else to do', so they turn to football hooliganism for something 'exciting' to take part in.
• To gain a sense of community, belonging, and family. It may be that belonging to a 'firm' or supporting a football club gives someone a sense of these things.

Football hooliganism causes disorder, so although it may make someone feel better at the time, they are involving themselves in an illegal activity.

If you have any information about football hooliganism, or those taking part in it, be fearless and let us know anonymously.