A question for any Brits living in major cities and urban centres?

Question

I am trying to write a piece for my local paper regarding the arms market and gun crime in the UK. As I live in a medium-sized, rural town gun crime is non-existent, however I want to travel to somewhere where gun culture is prevalent and talk to the young people actually involved in gun culture on a friendly, anonymous basis.

Where is the best place for me to go (a friend mentioned Nottingham or Manchester), and how might I reasonably get to talk to these people without risk to my personal safety? I am not out to expose or chastise them but just to find out about life in these circles as someone of their own age.

Thanks for all sensible answers.

Answer 1

Choose your favourite city ....

1. LONDON
a) Muslim Boys [Stockwell Crew, the South Man Syndicate and Poverty Driven Children (PDC)] - Brixton, Peckham, Lambeth, and Streatham
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article305781.ece
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-11361923-details/Fears+over+gang+war/article.do
b) Press Road Crew - Chalkhill, Neasden
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-7158980-details/Gang+named+and+shamed+/article.do;jsessionid=v8VcFwXFnhmvKTH3jVWhksN4jJLNhJ0x7k9l2jZJ4ndr1tJ6zD5G!948659138!-1407319225!7001!-1
c) Shadwell Massive - Stepney
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-527954-details/Laughing+gang+jailed+for+DLR+killing/article.do
d) Younger Woolwich Boyz - south east London
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23386359-details/Just%20a%20click%20away:%20Armed%20gangs%20recruiting%20via%20You%20Tube/article.do
e) North London Somalis (NLS) - Tottenham and Wood Green
f) Centric Boys - Camden
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/whereilive/tottenham/display.var.1202140.0.gang_stabbed_teen_to_death.php
g) Peckham Boys - Peckham, Walworth and Camberwell
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1252012,00.html
h) Cartel Crew - Brixton
i) Lock City Crew - Harlesden
j) Much Love Crew - Harlesden
k) Spanglers - north-east London
l) Fireblade - north-east London
m) Kinglands Crew - Hackney
n) Hackney Posse - Hackney
o) Ghetto Boys - Lewisham
p) Younger Peckham Boys - Peckham
q) Bombers - Hackney
r) Tottenham Boys - Tottenham
s) Kurdish Bulldogs - Wood Green
t) A Team - north London
u) Southall Sikhs [formerly the Holy Smokes and Tooti Nung]

2. MANCHESTER
a) Salford Lads
b) Cheetham Hillbillies
c) Gooch Close Gang - Moss Side
d) Longsight Crew
e) Pitt Bull Crew
f) Doddington
g) Young Longsight Soldiers

3. LEEDS
a) Yout’
b) Chapeltown Purse Dippers

4. NOTTINGHAM
a) Meadows Posse
b) St Ann’s Crew
c) Radford Road Posse

5. NEWCASTLE AND THE NORTH-EAST
a) Warden Law Gang - Sunderland
b) BOSS – the Boys of South Shields
c) Youth of South Shields
d) Stockton Wrecking Crew
e) Gremlins

6. BIRMINGHAM
a) Johnson Crew
b) Burger Bar Boys

7. BRISTOL
a) Aggi crew
b) Hype Cru
c) Mountain View Posse
d) Back to Back gang

Answer 2

I dont suggest going to talk to criminals about their gun crimes or society and culture. If they find out your a reporter or journalist theyre going to think your lying or that your and undercover cop or something. Thats really not safe or the image you want to be portraying to them. Those people dont play with that sh-it so watch out. They'll know if your a part of what they do and if your from there or not so you gotta blend in with them and know what your gonna say. They aint stupid either so its not like theyre gonna reviel everything to you, a complete stranger. Your better off doing research online or talk to a friend or someone who knows someone than going into a neighborhood like that. But if you must then i guess a populated place like london would have more of that activity, you know like in the city somewhere. Dont mess around though...good luck :)

Answer 3

Before, even thinking of doing anything in any of the areas already stated. Do your home work, and have a contact with a well-known person, who's well established in any of those cities. As, failure to do so would land you in very hot-waters. Meaning, that all outsiders, moreso, asking unusual questions, would instantly be viewed with suspicion, at best. I f, those that you're talking to. only taught you were some kind of reporter: not, a 'Coppers-informer'.
I, hope for your sake you heed my warning.

Answer 4

it`s all over the capital but especially in south east of London

Answer 5

hulme manchester