Ross Kemp- Gangs- A review by Liam Miles.

Ross Kemp is best known as playing the role of Grant Mitchell in EastEnders, more recently however he has become a world known journalist and political investigator. Ross Kemp has been to the most dangerous parts of the world, he has been to war torn Syria to interview active ISIS fighters, as well as travelling to the world’s most dangerous regions which are torn apart by deadly gang rivalries and political instability. Ross Kemp has shown time and time again that it is possible to gain access to these communities. There is a clear need to investigate and hear the stories of those living in these communities whose lives have been turned upside down by the brutal mechanisms of gang culture.

It is apparent to me, that the gang members, who agreed to be interviewed wanted to be heard. When Ross visited Moscow, he interviewed members of a far-right Neo Nazi group.  They appeared only too happy to be interviewed, which would have given them a vocal platform and a sense of recognition for their self-entitled acts of ‘heroism’ which they would believe amongst themselves.

Ross also however brings home some dark truths, we open our wider understanding as to why people join gangs, the attraction and the appeal of making money when there is no legal alternative. When he went to Rio de Janeiro, he immediately discovered that there was a deep-rooted divide between the rich and the poor. Gangs also fighting for control over the drugs trade, which is a hugely profitable commodity in South America. In this scenario, there is a clear reason why young local men in the favelas join gangs. Simply because they have no choice. No welfare state, lack of employment, lack of investment from the government. In a lot of scenarios, many see the drugs trade as being the only way to make money, as well as through other methods such as robbery and murder. However, from reading this chapter, there does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel somewhere. Ross interviewed a man called Catra. Catra fell into gangs and drug dealing until his apparent talent for music gave him a way out. It is clear again, that lack of opportunity and space to pursue genuine talents and interests can lead to a rapid decline into drugs and gangs, as seen to be the only viable option.

Another reason why people appear to join gangs Is also for the sake of status, purpose and feeling of power and control. Ross visited Waivoa in New Zealand, he spoke to a gang known as the ‘mongrel mob’. A gang member called Makilo, said he joined a gang because when he was in primary school, he saw two children who looked ‘ugly’ ‘hard’ and ‘mean’. He claimed to instantly aspire to be like them, on the account of not being messed with and being respected. There is also an issue of Nihilism. Many gang members within New Zealand, have said they deliberately want to provoke the ‘white’ ‘middle classes’. This is shown using wearing Nazi symbols. The aim being to provoke the ‘polite, white New Zealand’ who as a majority of course denounce fascism and Nazism. Insulting and creating tensions is partly the agenda in this case. This shows to me, a lack of understanding and relatability between the ‘white New Zealanders’ and the gang members, many of whom do not come from typical white, middle class backgrounds. The gap between the rich and the poor is ever widening.

Another reason as to why gangs can often be formed is because of political and religious views which overpowers an individual’s sense of reality. Ross visited Moscow and detailed in the chapter that he spoke to a neo Nazi gang, who had ideals and plans to ‘wipe black people off the street’. This gang is purely ideological. They train in a military manner to prepare for some ‘final battle’. Essentially, this gang is a breeding ground for terrorism. However, one major difference between Moscow’s neo Nazi gang and other gangs encountered in the book is the intersectionality. Ross interviewed a gang member who was female, student, wealthy background and whose origin looked Middle Eastern. Despite this, the group was preaching for ‘white power’ and to ‘cleanse Russia’.

To conclude, after reading Ross Kemp- Gangs, a few things have become clear. Firstly, that it is possible to obtain access into these communities. Gangs can be formed and function because of opportunity to do so, (through lack of legal opportunities), hierarchy, tradition, status and ideology. It is also apparent that these groups want to be spoken to and heard on both a localised and global platform. In many cases, they may want to be feared by the captivated audience. However, the common theme for gang unity, which includes countless deaths and suffering is simply and partly down to lack of opportunity, Lack of stable government who can provide security and opportunity for all its people, and of course therefore, the rising gap between the rich and the poor. We can see this in the UK as well. Years of cutbacks and austerity, as well as the ideals of neoliberalism which has changed the way in which goals and prospects are aspired and attained. We in the UK are seeing a Youth crime and knife crime ‘epidemic’ which is arguably partly caused by these political and social harms. We partly know the problems and causations as to why people all over the world join gangs, my question is- What are the solutions? Is funding the simple answer? Or does it go much deeper than that… Are there deeply rooted structural and societal issues surrounding intersectionality, the relationship between Government, police and individuals, as well as little to no ways of legitimately making money without inducing violence. Well I think these factors should be highly considered.