In that article, published in London's Sunday Telegraph, Prince Willy had this to say: "Former gang members have told me that it is precisely to find status, respect from others and the role in a community that we all crave that led them to fall in with gangs in the first place. One enduring feature of all gangs, and teams, is that they survive on mutual support. They allow their members to earn respect by obeying the rules, and they share clear objectives. Essentially, they allow the individual to belong. As such, the fundamental difference, so far as I can see, between violent street gangs and cohesive teams of contented young people is the destructive violence of the former set against the constructive comradeship of the latter. The challenge, therefore, seems to me to be how to turn gang members into team members."

I'm well aware of the enticements for young people of gang membership but I'd never thought of it in terms of status, respect and role. When I do, as I have since reading the prince's words, it seems to me that the prospects of diverting gang members to more constructive conformity might be better than I'd assumed. Is it possible that this is behind Hells Angels, The Comanchero, The Finks and others mentioned in a blog last week moving from bikie gangs to motorcycle clubs?

More seriously, what do you think of Prince William's scenario? Is there more we can do to constructively engage young people in need of status, respect and role?