Thousands of girls ‘trapped’ in gangs

Thousands of girls and young women trapped in gangs are living “desperate lives” where rape is considered normal.

That is according to a report by the Centre for Social Justice into female gang members, which found sexual exploitation, drugs-running, and gun handling is part of their routine life.

Researchers heard how female members are being pressured to have sex with boys — some as young as 10 — to initiate males into gangs. Rape is used to control the female members and as a weapon against girls and women associated with rival gangs.