In Rio de Janeiro and the favela’s famously depicted in the powerful movie City of God, Ross explores some of the poorest slum areas on the planet and the people who subside there, 3,500 of which were consumed by violence last year alone.<\/p>
With war waging not only between the authorities and the drugs trade, but the rival gangs locked in bitter feuds for control of the slums, Ross goes inside the heart of the troubled regions to uncover how far things have gone and if there is any way back.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S1-Brazil.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S1 Brazil"},{"captionHeading":"New Zealand: Auckland","caption":"
Ross travels to New Zealand to explore the violent underworld beneath the rolling hills and sweeping valleys of one on of the most beautiful countries on earth, tracking down The Mongrel Mob.<\/p>
Distinctive for their facial tattoos and urban warrior clothing, over 1,000 members throughout 26 chapters are responsible for countless murders, rapes and assaults which has left the country gripped with fear. With exclusive access to a mob HQ in Auckland, Ross enters another world of decadence, meeting current and founding members of the gang as well as witnessing the never before filmed initiation ceremony of a ‘prospect’ member.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S1-New-Zealand.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S1 New Zealand"},{"captionHeading":"South Africa: Cape Town","caption":"
Ross travels to South Africa to explore the dark heart of the country’s ferocious Number gang that thrives on over-crowded prisons. Nowhere is their power more potent than Cape Town’s Pollsmoor High Security Prison, Ross’ first forbidding destination. Inside Pollsmoor, Ross experiences the terrifying sensation of incarceration among vicious murderers, rapists and violent armed-robbers. He also learns about the fearsome power of the Number gang, who subject new arrivals to violent attacks and gang rapes as part of their brutal initiations.<\/p>
“It’s taken us four months to negotiate access to the prison that holds them,” says Ross as he steels himself to enter Pollsmoor prison,” and after a 6000 mile journey, I’m at the point of no return, and wondering just what I’ve got myself into.”<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S2-Cape-Town.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S2 Cape Town"},{"captionHeading":"El Salvador: San Salvador","caption":"
San Salvador is the smallest, most densely populated and most dangerous country in Central America, Ross immerses himself in the dangerous world of the Mara Salvatruchaor MS13gang.<\/p>
“El Salvador has a level of violence that far exceeds any other country I’ve been to.” says Ross, “There are on average 11 murders a day in a country with a population smaller than London. No wonder the city’s morgue is such a busy place.”<\/p>
Considered by America to be the ‘most dangerous gang in the world’, with over 100,000 members, MS13 is locked in an ongoing war with rival 18th Street gang and is responsible for murders, rapes, drugs and arms smuggling. Ross meets MS13 leaders in Central America’s toughest prisons as well as foot-soldiers on the outside; those gang members living in such perilous surroundings that the bottom of their road is a no-go zone.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S2-El-Salvador.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S2 El Salvador"},{"captionHeading":"Russia: Moscow","caption":"
Ross gets inside Moscow’s vicious Neo-Nazi gangs and discovers who is behind the recent wave of racist attacks. Around 40% of Russia’s population is foreign – many of the migrants come from countries that were part of the former Soviet Union. It is estimated that Russia currently needs 7 million migrants a year to keep the economy afloat. But most Russians don’t see it that way.<\/p>
Ross uncovers the extent to which the Nazi, or National Socialist, groups are gaining power in the country: it seems that the authorities, at best, turn a blind eye to racism, at worse actively endorse it. And Ross meets one Member of Parliament who openly promotes Nazi ideology. Ross joins one Neo Nazi group during their training and through a series of tests - which include him being set on fire - he gains their trust. They invite him back to their secret headquarters where he uncovers the heart of their violent organisation.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S2-Moscow.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S2 Moscow"},{"captionHeading":"USA: St Louis","caption":"
Ross discovers the dark side of Middle America’s gang culture, in St Louis. In the list of ‘most American gun deaths’, St Louis is at number three and has been for the last five years. Ross examines Missouri’s second largest city and its unenviable reputation for being one of the pin-up boys for US gun culture. In a population of 342,000 people, there are around 380,000 guns; and many of these are in the hands of gangs. <\/p>
“…the first thing that strikes me is the youth of the people involved in the violence (in St Louis),” says Ross, “It’s kids killing kids.”<\/p>
Ross also meets the people living with the fallout of the gangs’ violent activities, the gang members and their families. He talks to a member of the Jefferson Vanderloo gang, Jason, who has two brothers in jail and faces years inside himself if he doesn’t change his way of life. His mother has left their old neighbourhood to try and break the cycle of gang membership.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S2-St-Louis-Blood-gang-members.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S2 St Louis Blood gang members"},{"captionHeading":"Colombia","caption":"
For forty years Colombia has been embroiled in civil war as paramilitary and guerilla forces fight for control. Gangs play a part gangs in this conflict and Ross meets with the most secretive of them all, the Sicarios. These small groups, mostly under the employ of the paramilitaries, operate as 'hit-squads', killing whoever is considered a threat.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S3-Colombia-Sicaro.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S3 Colombia - Sicaro"},{"captionHeading":"Jamaica: Kingston","caption":"
Jamaica boasts the highest murder rate in the world with two Yardie gangs totalling 10,000 members. Originally created by Dons with strong political connections, the gangs controlled armed mobs to fight for votes. Today the gangs have moved away from their political roots and Ross sets out to speak to them in an election year.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S3-Jamaica-Grants-Pen-Gang.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S3 Jamaica - Grants Pen Gang"},{"captionHeading":"Poland","caption":"
In Poland, he follows Neo-Nazi football hooligans who have become one of the most feared gangs in Europe. Young men with few prospects use violence as a means of escape, and Ross experiences first hand just how dangerous it can be when he's tear-gassed at a football match.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S3-Poland-Stilon-Fighters-football-hooligan-gang.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S3 Poland - Stilon Fighters football hooligan gang"},{"captionHeading":"USA: Los Angeles","caption":"
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.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S4-LA.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs S4 - LA "},{"captionHeading":"Belize","caption":"
The PIV (Professionals In Violence) Blood Gang Members In Belize, Ross discovers how this once-sleepy corner of the British Empire has descended into a virtual narco-state. Despite its miniscule size, Belize is the sixth likeliest place in the world to die from a gunshot wound. Fuelled by unemployment and a rampant drugs trade, gangs are battling a turf war in the slums of Belize City, where the murder rate is five times higher than that of the US.<\/p>","url":"2008/10/31/Ross-Kemp-on-Gangs-S4-Belize-PIV-Professionals-In-Violence-Blood-gang-members-1.jpg","width":570,"height":364,"alt":"Ross Kemp on Gangs Belize Blood gang members"}];