Some of the most horrific crimes in the North East are committed by gangs.
Police investigations into gang-related crime are often incredibly complex and can involve officers going undercover and months of hard work before making arrests. However, when the arrests eventually come through, it can take dangerous people off the streets of the North East.
Several gang-related crimes have gone before courts in 2022 and some of those found guilty have been locked up for their crimes. Here are some of the gangs to have been convicted so far this year.
