With an estimated population of 12 million, the Roma gypsies are the biggest ethnic minority in Europe. The poorest of the poor they’re an often marginalized minority reportedly involved in drug trafficking, pick pocketing and human traffic.

Ross travels to Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, to uncover the truth about one of the most despised ethnic groups in Europe. He is there to find out if the allegations against them are true, and if they are true, what impact the gypsy gangs are having on the streets of Britain.

Ross’ journey starts in London. When Bulgaria joined the EU in January 2007 London saw an increase in crimes across the capital with 250 gypsy crimes per week. The popular press was filled with horror stories predicting thousands of benefit-hungry gypsies arriving in Britain and bringing a crime wave with them.

Ross joins the London Transport Police, who recognise that they have a growing problem with Gypsy Gangs from Bulgaria and Romania. It is reported that they have a deal between them; the Romanian’s take everything above ground, the Bulgarian’s everything below ground.

He then travels to Bulgaria, hoping to get access to the secretive world of Europe’s most maligned minority. More than 90% of the unemployed in Bulgaria are Roma, they suffer severe segregation and live in over crowded inner-city ghettos, gypsies are despised by most Bulgarians and branded as criminals by the media. They’re often used a punch bag by Bulgarian far right politicians eager to turn anti-Roma sentiment into electoral gain

He meets several Gypsy gangs, some of whom have worked on the streets of London and the UK. The leader of the Euro Roma party believes the problem to be so big that £200 million pounds are being taken from the UK every year.

Quotes

“Bulgaria is a very beautiful country but it has a few problems politically”.

“There is a direct connection between the pick pockets that work underground and the UK”.

“Bulgaria is an interesting story. It’s estimated that £200,000,000 is stolen by pickpockets on UK streets, according to the gypsies.

“We spoke to prostitutes who dream of moving to the UK to work here because they can earn so much more”.

“We had a meeting with a gypsy king and some other chieftains; it was a surreal five-hour lunch”.

Ross Kemp On Gangs: Sky One 8th September