‘I’m not having that,” says the detective constable. He brakes sharply to a halt outside a house party as he drives through Moss Side’s notorious Alexandra Park estate. “Get a ******* proper job you *****!” The loud and abusive comment comes from one of the revellers who, along with others, is celebrating a birthday in the front garden of the house.
The jibe, clearly aimed at the passing patrol, irks the officer. The unarmed, plain-clothes cop and his sidekick – both wearing body armour – get out of the Ford Focus and politely but firmly tell the outspoken, and perhaps drunk, reveller he’s out of order.
All hell breaks loose.
People from the party spill out onto the road and surround the two officers. Women scream abuse. The man’s brother tries to intimidate the second officer, putting his face right in front of the officer’s face.
The officers usher the man who shouted the abuse around a corner and give him an official warning about his conduct, telling him he’ll be arrested if he persists.
His friends drag the man back to the party, where the simmering anti-police resentment continues. The officers – who have acted without back-up – get back into their car and drive off.
“I’ve probably saved someone in that family from getting shot,” says the detective. “They may have got away with saying stuff like that to police in the past but I’m not going to stand for it.”
The car is unliveried but everyone out on the street knows perfectly well it’s the police. And not just any police. These are two officers from the crack gang-busting team of Greater Manchester Police, Xcalibre Taskforce.
It’s obvious the officers’ bravery is a matter of routine, an every day feature of the work the ‘Xcal’ squad has undertaken across south Manchester’s gangland for virtually every hour of every day since it started up in August, 2006.
The drama I describe happens just before 11pm on Friday night and wouldn’t merit a headline in the Evening News. After all, no shots are fired and no-one is hurt.
But that’s the point. It’s not a happy stroke of luck Moss Side hasn’t seen a fatal shooting since 15-year-old Jessie James was gunned down as he cycled through Broadfield Park in September, 2006.
The relative calm has been hard-won thanks in part to the efforts of this officer and his colleagues.
The M.E.N. joined the officers at Greenheys police station at the start of their Friday night shift. The faces of more than 200 known gang members stare down from mugshots plastered across two walls inside the station. We would encounter some of them later in the evening.
On another wall hangs a picture of Gordon Brown’s visit in 2007. A steady stream of dignitaries and officers from police forces from around the world have been to see just how the squad works.
“It’s not rocket science,” says the officer, who has been shot at by gang members in the past, as he details the kind of work he and his colleagues do. They make it their business to know the names and faces of known members of the Gooch, Doddington and other gangs that have given Manchester an unwanted reputation.
They make sure gang members are at home if they are under curfew as part of any bail conditions. They issue lots of stop checks when tensions are particularly high. They regularly arrest the same gang members. They search for guns and ammunition. They send warning letters to parents when a new gang member appears who could be ‘at risk’. And, for those who want it, they organise a new life for them and their families well away from Manchester. Basically, they’re out on the streets every day.
Those tempted by the perceived glamour of life as a gangster rarely escape gun culture, despite the chances offered to them, says my host.
His point is hammered home in the next few hours when we come across four gang members who had been moved out of Manchester with their families only to return for the ‘buzz’ of gang life.
A known gang member spots us and rides off smartly. “He’s 17. He’s been shot at two or three times. We got him and his whole family moved out of the area but he still comes down here. He loves it,” says the officer.
Later, we see a member of the Young Gooch on his bike. The officers exchange light-hearted banter with him. Other, lower-ranked gang members who are with him remain conspicuously quiet. Only the leaders can be seen to talk to ‘Xcal’. We drive off.
The officer says: “We’ve moved his whole family out of the area and he still comes back every day. He’s been shot at twice outside his house. He’s a nice lad, actually. We found him a house, had it re-decorated, new furniture, new kitchen and bathroom.”
Later he describes another known gang member who runs off when he sees us: “He’s a very talented footballer. He was with City on about £5,000-a-week. We took him and his family right out of Manchester. He wouldn’t have it and came back. He got in with the wrong crowd and suddenly he’s back into it.”
We spot another: “He was shot in the leg two years ago. We moved him and his family out of the area but he comes back every day. He’ll end up dead.”
So how many come back? “About 90 per cent,” he says. “They love it. It’s the pack mentality. They want the name and reputation. They want to be a somebody. They want the buzz.”
Earlier, the 40-year-old officer explained his philosophy: “I’m a city boy. I was brought up in Beswick and spent a lot time knocking around Longsight. People say it’s about where you were brought up. That’s rubbish. You make your own choices in life.
“You should never lose sight of the fact that 99.9 per cent of the people here are decent people.”
Click on 'View gallery' for more images from the shift
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"I’m not having that," says the detective constable..."They may have got away with saying stuff like that to police in the past but I’m not going to stand for it."
...
"They love it. It’s the pack mentality. They want the name and reputation. They want to be a somebody. They want the buzz."
Clearly the irony is lost on this "detective". He snears at people for wanting a name and a reputation after acting like a cocky thug towards someone he deemed to be not showing him the proper "respec'" on his "turf".
This kind of piece confirms what decent people have known for some time; the police have effectively become a gang with methods and attitudes which differ little from the people they try to contrast themselves with.
"the police have effectively become a gang". The very same gang you'd call and expect to act when you have problems?
The police should just let the scum bags kill each other.
Black Flag,
26/04/2010 at 10:27
Except the vast majority of police are the good guys and the vast majority of the gang members are the bad guys. From most of the comments of yours that I read you would appear to be anti police or have probably received 3 points for not wearing your seatbelt, however I know who you'll be calling when your in trouble and it won't be ghostbusters.
Well said...I am horrified at this bit of GMP publicity which feels similiar to those awful Police Camera Action type programmes where the police act like arrogant bullies and then pat thewmselves on the back...
Now come on, the police are, and always will be, a gang, paid by the public to protect them. That’s what Robert Peel invented, a group/gang to protect the public.
It is a bit like a security firm that you pay for protection, the only difference is that we can’t sack them and get another firm in.
Black Flag
Fight fire with fire comes to mind
Zero tolerance should be applied to these people and their gang culture which they have choosen, they should be hung at the earliest oppotunity into their careers.
"Zero tolerance should be applied to these people and their gang culture which they have choosen, they should be hung at the earliest oppotunity into their careers."
So people who shout “Get a ******* proper job you *****!” at police should be hung? Wow.
Before 11pm...get real..I hope the Senior Officers involved are proud,and stand tall,and have warned the drive through not to serve birthday parties that late at night...Early Morning please,yes 3-4 a.m for brothels,shabeens,drug dens.Sorry if that time eats into your budget.....Should have got better accountants/budget managers GMP.
Typical behaviour of the wannabe gangsters and their molls who habituate parts of Moss Side.
Black Flag:
You seem to have a great deal to say on the issues of policing Greater Manchester. Perhaps you could enlighten us all with how you'd make the situation better, seeing as all you've done in the past is offer criticism?
Guten Tag: "The very same gang you'd call and expect to act when you have problems?"
What a silly comment. If a protection racket was extorting money from me, I might expect them to prevent anybody else from extorting money from me in the same way. That doesn't justify their actions.
old joe: "That’s what Robert Peel invented, a group/gang to protect the public"
If that's what you believe, you really need to brush up on your history. A look at the Peelian principles might be a good place for you to start.
theface: "Except the vast majority of police are the good guys and the vast majority of the gang members are the bad guys."
What a wonderfully simplistic world view to have.
"From most of the comments of yours that I read you would appear to be anti police or have probably received 3 points for not wearing your seatbelt"
No, I’m anti-thug, it’s just that, unlike some, I don’t make any exceptions for people wearing costumes or carrying shiny badges.
"however I know who you'll be calling when your in trouble and it won't be ghostbusters"
And if you’ve ready my response to Guten Tag, you’ll now realise what a silly comment that is.
No respect for the police comes from the attitude and actions of the police force, ive never been arrested but after seeing what the police did during the miners strike of the 80s i would not never help one in need of help! As for the shocking attitude towards people commiting minor driving offences thats also the problem.
Al Jazeera: "You seem to have a great deal to say on the issues of policing Greater Manchester. Perhaps you could enlighten us all with how you'd make the situation better, seeing as all you've done in the past is offer criticism?"
I’m finding this "all you do is criticise" nonsense to be thoroughly boring now. I offer suggestions about a whole range of issues on a regular basis, but there appear to be some people who are so unimaginative that they still fall back on that old gem.
It’s not like you even needed to let yourself down by adding that part. Without it, you would have actually asked a reasonable question.
This is one part of GMP that I admire, top cops, on the same money as lazy cops, and doing a very very good job in dangerous environments, this is why I say pay these type a lot more and the lazy type a lot less, these cops should be on a minimum of £50,000 as a DC, plus danger money. Well done the proper cops of X Calibre unit
Oh dear the salford half with is back from his high rise council owned flat...salfordrat is sooooooooooooooooooooooo sad !!!
There are no gangsters in Moss Side anymore.
Just a load of weapons (pun intended)
£50,000 plus danger money??!?!
The police should EARN their salary which should reflect the work they do and how it is viewed by their 'customers' - the public.
You Proper Sentences, are a proper muppet also
x
Black Flag: Well rather than write off my 'reasonable question' under the pretense of being bored, please feel free to ignore the comment and answer the reasonable question!
Al Jazeera,
If the police were made to abide by the Peelian Principles under which they were founded, it would solve most of the problems.
Black Flag,
Any answers to the question? Al Jaseera isn't the only one who is intrigued about the 'anti-thug' point of view.
Black Flag: I assume you are referring to this:
"The nine principles by Sir Robert Peel
1) The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.
2) The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.
3) Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.
4) The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.
5) Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.
6) Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.
7) Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence
8) Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
9)The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
Discuss folks..
Mamucium Stretford, congratulations for putting together a sentence, no not a muppet, and if you read my comments daily you will find I am a big critic of GMP on a lot of their results etc but also praise where I feel fit. You sound as though you may have been targeted by this specific unit, if you have not why slate me, £50,000 is not a lot of money for what the detectives and officers within the X Calibre unit do and risk.I wonder if your child got shot whether you support the X Calibre unit because without then there would be anarchy on certain streets in South Manchester and beyond.
I'll start.
9)The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
The article says:-
It’s not a happy stroke of luck Moss Side hasn’t seen a fatal shooting since 15-year-old Jessie James was gunned down as he cycled through Broadfield Park in September, 2006.
Seems that as per point 9 this particular unit are doing quite well