VRU co-director Karyn McCluskey's work on gangs has been made the subject of a new crime book.

Hood Rat, written by journalist Gavin Knight, looks at gangs in London, Manchester and Glasgow. A semi-fictional account of Karyn's work in developing and helping to set up the VRU's gangs initiative, CIRV (the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence), forms the basis for the Glasgow section of the book.

Karyn brought the CIRV concept back from the US after seeing work that was being carried with gangs in Boston and Cincinnati. CIRV began operating in Glasgow's east end in late 2008, moving to the north of the city in 2009. Following an initial two year period, CIRV has now become part of everyday business for Strathclyde Police, with plans now underway to extend the project to Glasgow's south side.

VRU co-director DCS John Carnochan and Medics Against Violence founder Dr Christine Goodall also feature in Hood Rat. The Glasgow section will be Radio 4's Book of the Week during the week beginning Monday, 25 July. Film Four have bought the rights to turn the book into a film.

Hood Rat by Gavin Knight is published by Picador. To find out more, go to www.gavinknight.org.