Youth escapes gangland life / East London & West Essex Guardian [no date]
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Carl Brown
""Knives are normal. They are just like having a mobile phone - everybody has got one," said a 19-year-old former street gang member. Until about a year ago Stephen would regularly carry a knife for protection, but he was made to realise the consequences of carrying weapons after his arrest. "I was stopped and searched, and officers found a big knife on me. They were not happy at all and said if it had not been my first offence I would have gone straight to prison," he said.
"Spending a night in the cell made me realise that the reality of the world is that the police can take my freedom from me. I was so happy to come home the next day.""