Ross Kemp on Gangs
Ross Kemp on Gangs is a BAFTA award-winning documentary series that was broadcast on Sky1 from 16 October 2006 to 22 September 2008. On 20 May 2007 the series won a BAFTA award for best factual series. The show is hosted by actor Ross Kemp, best known for his role of Grant Mitchell in the show EastEnders where Kemp's character was involved in several storylines involving gangs. On the show Kemp travels around the world talking to gang members, locals who have been affected by gang violence, and the authorities who are attempting to combat the problem. In each episode he attempts to establish contacts within the gangs who can arrange interviews with the gangs' leaders.
Episodes
Described as the "gang capital of the world" by its own mayor, Los Angeles has over 1,000 gangs and 100,000 gang members. Ross arrives in LA in the midst of a turf war, as the infamous Bloods and Crips appear to be fighting a losing battle with Latino gangs for control of the streets.
Ross travels to Sofia and Plovdiv, to explore the secretive world of Bulgaria's gangs and spend time with Roma families to understand what it means to be a member of a Gypsy gang; who are reportedly involved in people trafficking, the sex trade and pick pocketing.
"Belize was the first place I was ever given a hand grenade by a gang member". Ross Kemp. Fuelled by unemployment and a rampant drugs trade, gangs are battling a turf war in the slums. Ross meets the gangs that control the streets and sees a fraction of the weapons that make this city so violent.
Ross Kemp and his documentary team travel to Kenya to investigate the Mungiki, an outfit labelled as the most dangerous 'gang' in Africa.
In Liverpool Ross asks whether the city deserves its reputation for gang and gun violence. He seeks to discover what lies behind the code of silence that makes police work so difficult, a ‘code’ so strong that it influences the way police and the law operate in gang-related cases.
