The strongest of these are the Chinese Triads and the Jamaican Yardies who operate within their

The strongest of these are the Chinese Triads and the Jamaican Yardies, who operate within their own communities, at times extremely violently.In 1991 the problem of extortion, or “tea money”, became so severe among London’s Chinatown community that restaurant owners called on the Government and police for help. Some swap services, such as the hiring of guns or hitmen, and trade drugs.”Recent investigations have continued grossly to underestimate the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the British criminal classes,” says Dr Barry Rider, a senior legal academic at Cambridge University. In Newcastle the fierce rivalry between different groups of bouncers has led to a number of shootings.There is growing evidence that a loose-knit national network is being established between some of the traditional family or working-class gangs. The door men, who are part of criminal organisations, allow only their own dealers into the premises or are paid a percentage from freelance traffickers.

He died on the way to hospital.In May, David Ungi, 36, died under a hail of bullets after his car was blocked by a black VW Golf at a crossroads in Liverpool. The killing is believed to have been carried out by a rival gang.In the North-west and North-east of England, the distribution of drugs is often controlled through bouncers who operate in pubs and clubs. In one, Andrew McLaughlin, 31, opened his door to an unknown man who blasted him with a shotgun. The shooting was followed by three more in the area in as many days. In March, John Kelly was shot in the face in a crowded bar in Paisley. Bekir Arif was later jailed for five years after being convicted of disposing of guns.Their reign during the Seventies and Eighties ended after a series of successful police operations: during an attempted armed robbery in November 1990 one of the gang was shot dead by detectives and Dogan Arif, 42, the head of the family, is currently serving 14 years for his part in an pounds 8.5m drug-smuggling plot.In Scotland in the past six months rival drug factions fighting for their share of a business worth pounds 10m a year have carried out a number of killings and attacks in the Paisley area of Glasgow. The vehicle’s windscreen was shattered with a sledgehammer and the crew was blasted with a shotgun.

But more and more gangs are getting involved in currency counterfeiting, firearms smuggling and money laundering.Every city has its own gangs, although so far no gang or family has occupied such a powerful position as the legendary Krays (although even they failed to extend their influence much beyond south London).One of most powerful family outfits of recent times has been the Arifs, a large extended family from Stockwell, south London, who were involved in armed robberies and drug smuggling and owned a string of clubs, pubs and restaurants – almost certainly bought from the proceeds of their criminal activities.The family first gained notoriety in May 1977, when Osar Arif was acquitted of the murder of a guard during a security van robbery in which pounds 103,000 was stolen. In the North-east and North-west of England the figure jumps to around 80 per cent. Police believe this is responsible for more than half of all the illegal activities of these groups. The vast majority – 227 – are in the South-east, mainly London, with roughly equal numbers in the North- east (47), and the North-west (45), and half as many in the South-west (22), and the Midlands (25).Almost all organised crime in the UK is bound up in the control and supply of drugs.

“We want to see whether a Mafia-style gang is developing.”While all agencies acknowledge that organised crime in Britain is small compared to countries such as Italy and the US, NCIS already has a list of 366 “criminals of major significance”. This pilot scheme will be extended to all forces in April, and will for the first time provide a composite picture of gangland Britain.”We want to be able to spot trends quickly,” says Peter Richie, head of the Organised Crime Unit at NCIS’s Strategic and Specialist Intelligence Branch. From October six police forces and customs officers will provide details of suspected organised criminals. However, there is evidence that these small zones of influence are beginning to merge and grow.It is this concern that has prompted the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) to compile a gangland register. Police believe between pounds 2.5bn and pounds 4bn of criminally generated money is entering the UK financial system each year.But the vast majority of gangs control small patches of the UK with specialist interests. These are the Glasgow drug gangs, the Newcastle protection racketeers, the north London forgers, and the south London crack dealers.