The Matrix in Context: Taking Stock of Police Gang Databases in London and Beyond. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Densley, James A.; Pyrooz, David C.
• Other Names: Densley James guest-editor.; Deuchar Ross guest-editor.; Harding Simon guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Youth justice. Volume 20:Number 1/2(2020)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 30
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: civil liberties -- gangs -- police databases -- risk assessment -- violence intervention; Juvenile justice, Administration of -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Youth -- Legal status, laws, etc -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Juvenile corrections -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 364.360941
• DOI: 10.1177/1473225419883706
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-2254

Abstract

Technology has ushered in a new era of intelligence-led and 'big data' policing, and police gang databases are part of this paradigmatic shift. In recent years, however, gang databases have come under intense public scrutiny. For example, Amnesty International and others argue that London's Gangs Matrix is discriminatory and violates data-protection laws. This article draws on evidence and examples from a wide range of sources – gang legislation, surveys of young people, police gang records and research on gangs – to put the Matrix controversy into broader context, and to adjudicate between common validity and civil liberties critiques of gang databases.