Street crime special: Trigger-happy tales from Britain's front line

Knife-wielding, gun-toting, pit-bull-packing hoodies are assailing us from every angle. They're in the newspapers and on the television; the subject of police crackdowns, Government task forces and dinner-party debates.

But while ministers fear to tread our inner cities by night, the views of those best placed to discuss the issues surrounding street crime rarely see daylight.

Which is why we've produced this special section (see related links). You will read first-person, frontline accounts and analysis from gang members, police officers, crime victims, youth workers and academics.

We've even asked leading advertising agencies to turn their expertise to the problem (hardly their usual target demographic).

We think you'll agree that the results are by turns shocking, enlightening and downright intriguing...