Scary Maps Show All The Areas Of London That Are 'Run' By Gangs

Forget the graffiti tags, choreographed finger symbols and rap videos - London's gangs are in "open warfare", claims a recently retired sergeant who ran a gangs unit for the Metropolitan Police. 

Darin Birmingham has told Sky News that groups with members as young as 12 are running "unchecked" as they export Class A drugs to UK towns and cities as far away as Aberdeen.

For an impression of just how many gangs are currently operating in the UK's capital, these maps have been set up to give a basic outline of their operating territories.

Birmingham said: "London is in peril and Boris should stand up. The Met is losing about 50 good policeman a week. Within 18 months they're getting rid of the whole chief inspector rank to save money." 

Adding: "These gangs are in open warfare." 

The MET police forces have had to deal with cuts amassing to some £600 million - but were keen to emphasise that they were still lowering crime rates despite these challenges.

"It is the Met's priority to make London one of the safest capitals in the world," the force said in a statement to Sky News.

"Over recent years the murder rate has fallen consistently and in 2014 it fell below 100 murders per calendar year for the first time since the 1970s.

"Any suggestion that the Met is failing to tackle gang crime is an inaccurate reflection of the work being carried out on a daily basis by officers."

[Via: Sky News]

(Image: Rex)

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