According to Jim Knight, the Schools Minister, Criminal gangs are infiltrating schools in England, particularly in Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and London, and sometimes using
primary-age children to run messages between members. He told MPs that he accepted his department was
"going to set hares running in the media but
we have to be open about it. It is an emerging issue that we want to nip in the bud now before it becomes
something that is a genuine worry for parents and pupils."

Mr Knight said the government would publish new guidelines for schools on the
issue later this year.