Gang crime poses a bigger threat to society than terrorism, an expert has claimed.

Two teenagers were killed within just minutes of another this week, both reportedly gunned down as they were caught in brutal postcode wars in London.

Dr. Mohammed Rahman, a lecturer in Criminology at Birmingham City University, told MailOnline that gang violence now poses a bigger threat to residents in the UK than terrorism.

And he said criminals are using YouTube and social media to encourage gang members to carry out killings.

So far this year, the Metropolitan Police has launched 55 murder investigations

Dr Rahman said while such crime was not a new phenomenon, gangland activities are on the rise amid an increase in social media use.

He told MailOnline: 'There is a rise in knife crime because nothing is being done about it.

'Gang crime and gangland violence should be taken seriously as terrorism by the state.

'Statistical trends over the years show more fatalities of gangland activities than terrorist activities. There is no voice of reason from state officials and an absence of debate.'

Kelvin Odunuyi, 19, was gunned down as he stood with friends at the entrance of the Vue cinema in Wood Green, on March 8

He added: 'One of the catalysts of postcode wars is social media. Youths of today are using social media to stamp their authority within a particular locale through images, texts, and visuals.

'They are essentially criminal undertakers - individuals who feel as though they're superior to others within the context of geographical areas.

'There is a surge in video platforms such as Link Up TV and YouTube which are promoting individuals recently released from prison for serious crimes.

'Within the first three or four months they're on these platforms talking about stuff they've done previously. They may have stopped reoffending in the common term but what they've done is re-channelled violent energies and made it digitalised.

'I see individuals I know that have been incarcerated for a long time then film videos talking about violence and death.'

He added: 'Gangs have access to knives relatively easy – they are sold to over 18s in most shops.

'Although we consider ourselves to have some of the tightest gun controls laws in the world, they're easy to get hold of.

'There is a push and a pull effect – as soon as you make it illegal you create a black market.

'Rogue dealers are supplying and distributing guns to gangland bosses and they are then used in hits.'

In Birmingham, gang members have started making music videos where they rap coded threats to rival gangs in the area

One particular video, uploaded to YouTube in December and called Trapline Jump, has hooded figures with face masks directing chilling messages to a gang called the Frankley Killers

Music videos, including tracks from rapper G Rilla, popularise violence with references to guns

In Birmingham, gang members have started making music videos where they rap coded threats to rival gangs in the area.

One particular video, uploaded to YouTube in December and called Trapline Jump, has hooded figures with face masks directing chilling messages to a gang called the Frankley Killers.

They boastfully rap about 44 calibre revolvers and 9mm calibre handguns in the dimly-lit clip.

Gang signs are proudly waved and displayed throughout the low-budget music video.

The men are believed to be members of the 61 gang, who are in dispute with the Frankley Killers.

The hoodlums brag about guns and darkly reference a shooting and separate stabbing that took place in the city.

The grime music video was viewed more than 50,000 times on YouTube and there are several more similar style clips on the platform from other gangs.

The Frankley Killers, the 61 and another group, called the 247365, are based around their turfs in south Birmingham and are said to be involved with Class A and Class B drug supplies.

Members of the 61 gang have chosen their name based off a nearby bus route.

The 247365 refers to members' hustle for gang activity that is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

All three groups have been using music and social media to assert their dominance and threaten the other gangs.

On the same night Tanesha (right) was shot, a 16-year-old, named locally as Amaan Shakoor (left), was shot in the face in Walthamstow by 'rival drug dealers'. He died later in hospital

Floral tributes have been left for Tanesha Melbourne-Blake on Chalgrove Road in Tottenham

Community leaders are also concerned that gang postcode wars have spread across the capital particularly in deprived areas.

Patrick Green, head of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said the deadly rivalries can be seen across swathes of south, east and north London including in Tottenham where 17-year-old Tanesha Melbourne was killed on Monday.

Mr Green said: 'It's just endemic across most of London, particularly inner London.

'For some reason this isn't just defined to one or two little corners it just seems to have spread and the mindset has crept in across London. It's around social deprivation.

'If you were to pull out a map which showed the most deprived boroughs I would guarantee there is a postcode war there.'

He said young people get stuck in such 'a bubble' that he has met men in their mid-20s who have never left Tottenham, even to travel as far as Oxford Circus.

There are particular rivalries in Wood Green and Tottenham; Croydon and South Norwood, Newham and Stratford.

Social media has also been highlighted as fuelling a cycle of tit-for-tat violence.

Beth Murray from youth charity Catch 22 said violent videos can end up being shared with thousands of people, normalising horrific incidents like stabbings and heaping 'shame' on the victim, pressuring them to retaliate.

Tanesha's godmother cried as she lay flowers at the crime scene before calling on Theresa May to put more funds in policing and reintroduce the use of stop and search

Only a fraction of the violence the organisation deals with is gang-related, she said, with the majority being 'kids with knives getting out of control with each other'.

Police estimate that in London half of gun crime is linked to gangs and around a fifth of knife crime.

MP David Lammy has spoken out about the surge in murders across the capital

Ms Murray said: 'Most of the shootings and stabbings that we see often aren't linked to organised crime or gangs, they are kids with knives getting out of control with each other.

'What we're seeing is that somebody might get stabbed, that might get filmed, that might go on Snapchat, that might be shown to hundreds of people who might then see that as normal, they might share that, that might then go out to thousands of people.'

Ms Murray said use of social media is an 'aggravating factor' in youth violence, but that there are more fundamental problems to solve.

Meanwhile MP David Lammy has spoken out about the surge in murders across the capital, blaming the 'serious drug market' after two teenagers were shot and killed within minutes of one another.

The MP said the spike in knife and gun crime was particularly prevalent in Haringey, north London, where it is fuelled by a turf war between two rival gangs in Tottenham and Wood Green.

Mr Lammy said: 'The gang turf wars that we are seeing in communities like mine are being fuelled by vast quantities of cocaine being shipped into our country by organised crime bosses and serious gangsters. '

Police continue to investigate the scene in Tottenham, amid reports at least three shots were fired in the attack

How stop-and-search powers have changed As Home Secretary Mrs May introduced changes in 2014 which meant police are only allowed to stop people when there is 'reasonable grounds for suspicion'. And it warned that where officers misuse the powers they would face disciplinary action. She introduced the measures amid widespread anger to the power, particularly among the black and ethnic minority population, who said it was used disproportionately against them. In the years following the reforms stop and search fell to their lowest level since the power was introduced 17 years ago. But violent crime has risen - sparking calls for the power to be taken up again. Under current stop-and-search laws, police are allowed to search a suspect if the have 'reasonable grounds' that the person is carrying a weapon, drugs or stolen property. Such justification might be that they have witnessed the suspect putting the knife into a pocket. However emergency section 60 powers can be enforced in a set location, such as a town or city, which removes the 'reasonable grounds' criteria. Advertisement

He continued: 'What lies behind the gun violence and the knife crime is a serious drug market that is being run by big time gangsters and McMafia style underworld bosses.

'We are hearing very little from the Government and the police about what they are doing to take down these criminal empires.

'I raised it at Prime Minister's Questions back in January and I await a date from the Home Secretary for an urgent meeting to discuss the Government's strategy and the resources needed to tackle organised crime.'

So far this year, the Metropolitan Police has launched 55 murder investigations.

Youth worker Tanesha Melbourne, 17, was the victim of a drive-by shooting in Tottenham on Monday night, and died in her mother's arms.

Just a few miles away, a 16-year-old named locally as Amaan Shakoor, was shot in the face in Walthamstow by 'rival drug dealers', according to a friend.

He died later in hospital, making him the 49th victim of the continuing bloodshed.

Mr Lammy said Tanesha's murder was a result of knife and gun crime 'fuelled by turf wars on behalf of gangsters and kingpins to control lucrative markets.'

Mr Lammy spoke as police investigate Tanesha's killing being linked to the rivalry between gangs in Tottenham and Wood Green.

According to the Guardian, sources claim the attack could be linked to the murder of 19-year-old Kelvin Odunuyi, who was shot and killed outside the Vue cinema in Wood Green.

The teenager was not believed to be part of a gang but associated with members of groups in the war in Wood Green and Tottenham.

The MP said gangsters are trafficking 100 tonnes of cocaine and exploiting young people to fight turf wars.

And he hit out at government cuts to border forces by 25 per cent and £1billion police cuts.

The Vue cinema in Wood Green where Kelvin Odunuyi was gunned down in the escalating gang war

Friends and family arrived to pay respects at the scene of the killing, London's 48th this year

The recent spate of violence has prompted scrutiny of a sharp reduction in stop and search activity, with use of the powers at the lowest level since current data records started 17 years ago.

Stop and search has repeatedly attracted controversy, with criticism focusing mainly on the number of stops of black and minority ethnic individuals.

Reforms were introduced in 2014 by then-home secretary Theresa May to ensure the tactic was used in a more targeted way.

Tanesha's godmother Lisa Robinson, from Stratford, east London, is calling on Theresa May to put more funds in policing and reintroduce the use of stop and search.

The controversial police policy to use a high amount stop and searches to tackle gun and knife crime in the capital has been criticised for alienating black young men.

But Ms Robinson said: 'Everyone might not be keen about Stop and Search but if it's a measure that can help reduce crime or save a life then until they can put other measures in then it's what they should do.'