The tips, unveiled by children and young people's minister Beverley Hughes, are aimed at social workers, youth workers and youth offending teams already working with those displaying risk factors.
The guidance suggests that signs of gang involvement can include criminal behaviour, persistent offending and emotional problems.
Other identifiers include young people having money they cannot explain, graffiti-style tags appearing on notebooks and displays of aggression towards other groups of young people.
The guidance, which has been put out for consultation, has come in for some criticism from Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (Mama).
"I think professionals realise this already - if they don't they shouldn't be doing the job," Lyn Costello, co-founder of Mama, said. She suggested earlier intervention work is needed to tackle the issue.
The new guidance, developed alongside police and local authorities, lists 16 signs that should ring alarm bells and will be sent to thousands of youth and social workers later this year.
Beverley Hughes said: "Involvement in gang activity is a very real and complex issue facing many children and young people, and this guidance aims to help early detection, intervention and support for those most at risk."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
