New report paints picture of gangland Britain

Police have identified 2,800 organised criminal gangs, nearly three times the number previously acknowledged, and admit that British law enforcement is ill-equipped to deal with the threat that they pose, according to an official report obtained by The Times.

The report was issued by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary six months ago and reveals the finding by intelligence analysts.  It had previously been marked “restricted” and circulated only to ministers and police chiefs. 

The report, Getting Organised, predicts that the threat from organised crime will increase, with syndicates using the London 2012 Olympics to exploit opportunities for sex trafficking and illegal immigration.  It also discloses the scale of gangland Brtain and makes the frank admission that police are struggling to cope with it.

The report states: “The UK law enforcement community now knows more about organised criminality than ever before. Worryingly, though, this increased knowledge has highlighted the need for a more effective response by the police and other agencies. The reach of organised criminality is more extensive than previously acknowledged . . . from local teams of criminals engaged in drug dealing and acquisitive crime through to international gangs committing acts of large-scale importation, kidnap, fraud and corruption.”

Read the full story from The Times here

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