Peckham Boys

Infobox Criminal organization
name =Peckham Boys (SN1, PYG, SI, DFA)


caption =
founded =1980s
founding location =Peckham, South London
years active =1980s to present
territory = Peckham, Camberwell and Walworth, in South London
ethnic makeup = Mostly Black British
membership est = +800
criminal activities = Murder, Drug trafficking, robbery,
allies = ABM,Wooly Hood
rivals = O.C, Ghetto Boys, Brooklyn

The Peckham Boys are a gang based in Peckham, South London. The gang was formed in the North Peckham Estate [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,1841018,00.html Brothers who terrorised streets since age of 10 and 11 | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited ] ] and members are primarily of Black British origin. The gang is split into 'babies', 'tinies', 'youngers' and 'olders' according to age group, with membership running into the hundreds.

The Peckham Boys are split into several distinct groups. SN1, which stands for 'Spare No1' (Spare no-one) is the umbrella group, in which the 'older' gang leaders are members. Underground UK rapper Giggs is a member of SN1. The main groups are PYG (Pecknarm Young Gunnaz), and S.I. (Shoot Instantly) and OPB (Original Peckham Boys), in which the majority of the members are affiliated.

The territory of these gangs are loosely defined, with hotspots located in the Peckham, Camberwell and Walworth area. The locales in which most gang members reside include Southampton Way, Aylesbury Estate, Clifton Estate, North Peckham Estate and Lettsom Estate.

History

The teenagers convicted of the high-profile murder of Damilola Taylor in 2000 were members of the Younger Peckham Boys. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1384150,00.html Three arrested in Damilola case | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited ] ] The Killers Ricky and Danny Preddie were only 13 and 14 at the time of the murder. Another boy of Nigerian origin was stabbed to death on the north Peckham estate nine days before Damilola was murdered, police have said. Shola Agora, 17, was found in the back of a car after being attacked just a few hundred yards from the stairwell where Damilola was found.

In 2006, the Peckham Boys were involved in a widely reported gang-war against the Ghetto Boys street gang based at the "Pepys Estate" and "Woodpecker Estate" in Deptford and New Cross respectively, South London. In the conflict, one innocent man was shot dead in New Cross, mistaken as a Ghetto Boys member by the Peckham Boys. He was shot at by a group of approximately 50 youths on mountain bikes, who cycled from Peckham to Deptford. [ [http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/tm_objectid=17775654&method=full&siteid=50100&headline=death-rampage-by-bicycle-gang-of-50-name_page.html icSouthlondon - Death rampage by bicycle gang of 50 ] ]

Shortly after the murder, another man was shot and stabbed in Deptford by the same group, but survived. Several members of the Ghetto Boys shot at youths in Peckham several days earlier. During the conflict, police seized handguns and sub-machine guns. [ [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article1705580.ece Gang war returns to streets where Damilola died - Crime, UK - Independent.co.uk ] ]

On the 24th September 2008, police conducted dawn raids on suspected members of the Peckham Boys gang. It is believed that the group conducted 120 robberies in what police have called a "prolific" criminal enterprise. The gang are believed to have used knives, machetes, crowbars and screwdrivers, sometimes up to 18 inches in length, to ensure they got away with the money. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/24/10]

Rivalries

Historically, the Peckham Boys have had a fierce rivalry with gangs from Brixton and New Cross. The dispute between the Peckham Boys and the Ghetto Boys of New Cross has been ongoing for over 20 years. [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2010704,00.html The inside story of gang life in Peckham | UK News | The Observer ] ]

More recently, the main rival to the gangs in Peckham are OC (Organised Crime), based in the Myatts Field North Estate, Brixton. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/main.jhtml?xml=/education/2008/06/14/faguns114.xml] . The Peckham factions are also engaged in turf-war with groups from the Old Kent Road area and 031, a Stockwell-based Blood gang.

Clothing

The Peckham Boys are known to identify with the colour black. The gang is identifiable by black bandannas, which are either worn around the lower face, neck or wrist.

References

External links

* [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23484519-details/Two+teenage+boys+stabbed+...+it's+just+another+day+of+gang+warfare+in+Peckham/article.do]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1944306.stm] ] Tale of the untouchables
* [http://www.gangsinlondon.co.uk Guide to London Gangs]
* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xGQj1XSbNO0]
* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0I0lT8UZqrk&feature=related]