Gangs: A Journey into the Heart of the British Underworld

Description

The original Gangland Britain was conceived and written at a time when organised crime in the UK was still in its infancy. Eight years on the picture has changed dramatically. Organised crime is now the country's third biggest industry. The number of gangland murders, shootings and kidnappings, along with the levels of drug trafficking, people smuggling and money laundering, have all experienced phenomenal growth. Multi million pound drug deals and vicious turf wars have spread out from the inner cities and now affect even the most rural communities. The day-to-day impact of organised crime on our lives has never been greater. In Gangs, award-winning author Tony Thompson takes us on a gripping journey into the underworld. From Triad human traffickers in Dover and ecstasy factor owners in Liverpool, to Albanian vice barons in London and guntoting teenage crack dealers in Birmingham, Gangs reveals the inside story of contemporary organised crime.

The bestselling author of GANGLAND BRITAIN, Tony Thompson is crime correspondent of the Observer and an authority on organized crime.

'Fascinating ... Thompson has a keen eye for the whimsical side of orchestrated illegality' -- Observer 'From snakeheads to yardies, kidnap to cocaine, Tony Thompson provides a vivid account of our country's underbelly. Amid the explosion in 'crim-porn' publishing over the last decade Tony Thompson has been a lone voice adding some much needed perspective. In the best tradition of the crime beat reporter, Thompson goes down the mean streets of the most insalubrious parts of Britain so we don't have to.' -- Word magazine 'Detailed and thoroughly riveting ... always grimly honest and provides an intensely readable and vivid first-hand account of criminals' lives and the impact of their activities on society' -- Herald