Gang War

The Inside Story of the Manchester Gangs.

For almost twenty years, the most intense and prolonged gang war in British history has raged on the streets of Manchester. Warring factions have left at least forty people dead, scores injured and made headlines across the world. The gangs vicious conflicts for control of drugs turf, protection rackets and door security have blighted the reputation of one of Europe’s most dynamic and entrepreneurial cities and caused the coining of sinister epithets such as ‘Gangchester’ and ‘Gunchester.’

Investigative author Peter Walsh reveals the inside story of the north-west crime mobs and their internecine feuding. With unprecedented access to gang members and police officers, he traces the roots of the gangs and focuses on the emergence of the city’s four main gangs – the Cheetham Hillbillies, the Doddington, the Gooch and the Salford Lads and tells how the Cheetham Hill, Gooch and Doddington crews fought for control of the Moss Side drug trade and how the much feared Salford criminals fought for control of pub and club doors and brought the region’s licensed trade to its’ knees.

Gang War also exposes for the first time, the new breed of young gangbangers – the Young Firm from Salford, the machine gun-toting Young Longsight Soldiers and the dreaded Pit Bull Crew, led by its fearless young leader, Tommy Pitt.

Gang War reveals how a new, US-style gang culture evolved in Manchester, unlike anything seen before in the UK and as gang culture spreads to other British cities, the book is a powerful and timely account of an extraordinary crime phenomenon.

Reviews:

‘The most detailed account of Manchester’s gangs ever published.’
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

‘You’ll struggle to put down Walsh’s ever bristling evocations of real life gang war in Gunchester. Gripping stuff.’ HIP HOP CONNECTION

‘The definitive account of the crime mobs’ feuding.’ THE WEEKLY NEWS

About the author:

Peter Walsh is a former investigative journalist for the BBC and author or co-author of seven books including Gang War and King of the Gypsies.