Ross Kemp On Gangs Returns To Sky One
This September, Ross Kemp and his award-winning team travel the globe, securing access to the brutal gangs who terrorise their communities in Los Angeles, Bulgaria and Belize, for a fourth series of Ross Kemp On Gangs.
Described as the “gang capital of the world” by its own mayor, Los Angeles has over 1,000 gangs and 100,000 gang members. Ross arrives in LA in the midst of a turf war, as the infamous Bloods and Crips appear to be fighting a losing battle with Latino gangs for control of the streets. Witnessing the chaos caused by the ongoing violence, Ross meets gang members and the victims of LA’s unglamorous and terrifying world.
The Roma are the biggest ethnic minority in central and Eastern Europe, an often marginalised minority reportedly involved in people trafficking, the sex trade and pick-pocketing. Ross travels to Sofia and Plovdiv, where he explores the secretive world of Bulgaria’s gangs and spends time with Roma families to understand what it means to be a member of a Gypsy gang.
In Belize, Ross discovers how this once-sleepy corner of the British Empire has descended into a virtual narco-state. Despite its miniscule size, Belize is the sixth likeliest place in the world to die from a gunshot wound. Fuelled by unemployment and a rampant drugs trade, gangs are battling a turf war in the slums of Belize City, where the murder rate is five times higher than that of the US.
Ross comments; “We’ve been very fortunate in finding rich materials again, our researchers have been fantastic and all the films are very different”.
Ross Kemp On Gangs, from Monday 1 September only on Sky1 and Sky1 HD.
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Get your facts right Ross Kemp. People like you just righta load of rubbish. Belize is a peace loving country that is why the Americans and Canadians are goingthere in there drovesto live. You are a liar, every country has gangs and I love Belize and am going back there to live in a years time. the murder is not higher than the US or rife with drugs it is still a relative peaceful place to live. So get you facts right Nincanpoop.
you will do anything to have a story to tell. This country is far worse.
Sorry Yolanda, i too am a British Belizean and i have to disagree with you. Belize does have a much higher murder rate than that of the US or UK. You have to take into account the size and population of Belize. Belize has atleast 2-3 murders every week and here in the UK maybe the same in one month. Did you hear about the shootouts and the grenade going off at carnival yesterday? Am from Plues street alongside George street and would have to say Belize definitely has a real big drug problem. However it is an amazingly beautiful country and most of the people are the kindest you will ever come across.
I to am moving back in a year but not the city bcs the city is way too hot, Ladyville is where i shall be living. Also is true that alot of Americans, Canadians, Africans and Europeans are migrating to Belize.
Well I am a Belizean living in Belize and I don’t see none of this non sense this guy is talking about. I will admit that we were more peaceful in the past but we are no where close to being as badly off as this idiot claims us to be
well ross when i see the video i’ll make my suggestions because i know most of the youths who got killed or who are the leader of the gangs i love belize and i will call it how i see it que! viva belice long live belize but i agree with yolanda this country is far worse soon we won’t be able to breathe
anyways have any of you seen the video? if so please hook me i cant wait for sky one and i’ve told some of the same gangsters about the video and the comments
Nah i don’t seen the video as yet but am anxious. I don’t think there is anywhere you can watch it as yet bc i the look all about online. I think everyone will have to wait for Monday to come unless you work for Sky lol
haha good one barry we will just have to wait until 22 septembe a day after independence day
Yeah Right! Hey i live in Belize, and well like every other country in he world in cluding Mr. Kemp’s we have our little share of crime, but its noway close to what kemp is suggesting. This report is highly exagerated and rediculous. Belize is one of the most PEACEFULL COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD! come visit Belize and have a great time!
gosh, what a lot of tripe. yes we’ve got issues. but NO grenades have NEVER been the weapon of choice. carnival was the first time something of that nature occurred. what a load of crap. american media just loves portraying the rest of the world how they choose to. i intensely dislike the way that my home has been portrayed. no we’re not perfect. but for the most part we’re a very lovely peaceful country. if nothing else it wasn’t until belize picked up access to the american media and poor american value system (ie -money, bitches, pimps,hos, gangs, crips, bloods, rappers and all the other associated bs) that we had the insane rise in gang related issues.
WHAT??? Ok…The carnival was the first time that a grenade was used as a weapon and this publisher man is saying its a popular weapon of choice??? Ok..U cant just come into my country and see one thing and assume its the norm. Ya I will admit..there is at least 1 killing in belize a week but its not as evil as this man is portraying it to be!!! Belize is such a peaceful country!! I’ll also admit that the availability of drugs in belize is pretty high….but its not like a drug land!!!!! Drugs are everywhere!! So is crime !! and Belize is NOTHING like what this man is saying…….Shame on him for saying such untruthful things about my beautiful country…
umiabz, i agree with you that all this modern day crime and it’s associates is all bcs the Yankee people them they love glorify crime, (not talking about every American but mostly the media). I just glad that hip-hop has taken a big turn. Now Reggae has to try eradicate all the problems.
Grenades are not an epidemic in Belize and i doubt it ever will be but i do remember two incidents before Carnival with grenades. few weeks before Carnival i sure i read on Channel 7 news or 5 that a young boy did use one (not sure if went off, cant remember) and another time this year i sure that one was found by police (again can’t remember).
Anywho it would be great if everyone gave their comments after the show tonight and express their feelings and thoughts. Big Up Belize!
Ross Kemp’s article is irresponsible and apparently self-serving. Kemp’s a total alarmist and he’s got his facts wrong. Belize is not the smallest contry in the Americas, to begin with. In terms of the Caribbean, it’s one of the larger territories though the population’s small. With such a small population, it doesn’t take many killings to make the death rate higher than that of the US. In absolute terms, they and the people of the UK–and many other Western countries suffer from much greater violence. Either his knowledge of statistics is pitiful or he’s deliberately using them to mislead readers and make a name for himself in the process. Belize is not terrorized by the kids selling drugs on corners in a couple of the neighbourhoods in a couple of the towns of Belize. These corners have become dangerous at night and few of us in Belize are happy to see these kids being neglected and going bad. Ross Kemp forgot to say anything about this. Apart from these corners, Belize remains a safe and pleasant country. More needs to be done to provide alternatives to kids without futures, and some work is already underway. But Ross Kemp does little for Belize–or his own reputation–with his opportunistic, superficial and unbalanced approach to Belize. Michael Rosberg, Ph.D., Director–Galen University Applied Research and Development Institute
Michael Rosberg, well said i could not had said it better.
I haven’t seen this video but if this clown of a repoter knows anything about research he would know that alot of these so call bad boy (gangsters.) are people that his courtry rared and then shiped out mabe he coult do a story on his country next and mabe call it (America ! We Will Show You How To Screw Up Anything !!)
This is nothing new for developing countries due to extremely limited resources and lack of job opportunities. Crime is and will be a problem for a long long time. While the crime rate is high in Belize, it is a reflection of a declining society WORLDWIDE and the revolving door of poverty. Leave it to some, in the interest of sensationalism, to look at others rather than in their own backyard. These reports give some of these pocotiempo gang members more credit than they are due. Who are some to criticize others when their situation is no better? I am sure they can find as much gang news in their own cities or countries if they look.
Well Mr. Ross i am a Belizean living here from birth i am now 33. To tell you the thruth the situation is bad but not hopeless because as someone else stated these so called gangsters are young boys thinking bout getting rich quick and being willing to do whatever to get rich even selling their manhood an dwhen they realize that who’s buying are the same bigger criminals who are raping them then they get mad and lash out at society. It’s a whole mix up corruted bahaviors but th einnocent people are suffering and we must put a stop to it.Parent sdon’t letth estreets raise your kids do what you have to do to raise your kids.
YO! dah weh dis! Come on now!
The weapon of choice by gangs is the grenade? That happened TWICE. And didn’t even go off the second time. This is a horribly lopsided story! Granted, crime has increased in Belize. And, because it is such a small country, it seems that it is plagued by the outbreak. But like any other country there is the good and the bad. Any skilled and professional researcher should know to view the entire situation rather than focus on a few events.
This is terribly disappointing!
I’m A Belizean, born and live…when i read something like this it breaks my heart to see that the information given is FALSE…Yes we have issues like everyone else but most of this crap ross kemp is saying is bullshit now,he should get his facts right. Ross Kemp is a JOKE and he is talking out of his head instead getting true facts.
Please don’t jump to such biased opinions right away about the Americans propagating this story…it is from the UK – those wonderful folks who brought us Amy Winehouse, and Great Britain is always looking for a new twist on kinky.
For the record, grenades are not the weapon of choice, and on the whole Belize has more than its share of peaceful, eco-friendly places and people.
Ross Kemp does not have a clue. So what, you visited Belize for two seconds and you think you can judge my country. HELL NO! To make a statement that says…”and the country has a per capita murder rate five times higher than the US.” That is an unrealistic comparison, it may be the fact, however that simply does not make us the most dangerous country. I AM A 25 YR OLD BELIZEAN, living in Belize and i have driven from north to south, just about a week ago and there is NO place in central American and this region where you can feel safer. To say that Belize has become the most dangerous country in the worlds is far from the truth and simply a lie. Is it strange that Belize has crime? Every place does and yes we do have a drug problem. what country doesn’t have problems? But Belize is one of the few places left where you can actually see the blue sky, drink the water and see the trees. I think Ross does not know what he is talking about. To an extent I blame the Bealizeans who participated in the documentry, our people it seems get to easily blinded by an accent and foreign passports.
I love Belize, and proud to be Belizean!
The only gangsters we had in this country was Said Musa, Ralph, Max Samuels and members of the last Administration,
Well to be honest the way the program is being presented is a total exaggeration of the real situation here in Belize. It seem to me that Ross and his producers have embellished their program in order to captivate their viewers and to capture higher ratings. I live in Belize and the level of drugs and violence is not as nearly as they make it seem. I do agree that in the recent year violence has gone up and something must be done to reduce it, but compared to may other countries Belize is a sleepy country in which you can relax. As for those idiots the George Street Gang they’re just morons who wanna be bad. “Local Enforcers for Mexican and drug Cartel”, what a farce….lol All they do is sit on a corner and harrass people. As for the grenades 1 that actually exploded and one that was found which was usless. I wonder how many of these exploded during the IRA confict. Anyways overall Ross is just acting so he can get the best ratings possible.
I am also a Belizean and I will have to admit that I do not feel nearly as safe in my country as I once did as a small child. I hope that if this is true…somehow the youths seeing this can turn this disaster around and look for other means of making money.
To Mr. Ross Kemp;
This is a concerned Belizean, firstly our crime rate is unsatable at time and no it is not higher than the U.S.
Secondly who ever you say you talked to from the George Street Crew(G.S.C), you sir are quietly mistaken. NO one from the G.S.C would ever talk to you about there business and would allow you to see their weapons or where they would or might hide it. so Sir next time you want to talk about another country other than your own… PLEASE GET YOUR FAX STRAIGHT OR PLEASE BE QUIET AND STAY IN SILENCE…………..
Its so unfortunate that even though we tune into channel 5 & 7 daily as if its a religion, We still fail to see the reality of what our country has come to. When was the last time when we havent gotten reports of gunshots or homicides and the ones that arent reported should not go unaccounted for. i love belize…proud belizean….but we are losing touch with our culture as our youths strive become “Americanized”
I am disillusions at the constant American bashing. Drugs follow money and anyone in its path gets smash. Instead of destroying the (ants i.e. workers trying to make a quick dollar) try to remove or contain the (sugar i.e. source of income, and educate the youth (the easy to deceive) to the effects cause by this product. It effects people all over the world in small communities where people feel they have no power. They sell to the wealthy, the only one who can afford this product. This product makes criminal of the best of people and communities. The light should be shone to bring to light and the community can act with help and support from people all over the world. Belize and America are beautiful country and the people are wonderful people that needs our help to bring or curb this before any more lovely people have to lose precious love ones.
Dear Mr. Ross
yes all you do is talk only RASS.Can’t say that the crime rate hasn’t gone up here in Belize but you put it as if though it is the most horrible country in the world ,and it is definitely not.
My friends I think we doth protest too much and in so doing we lend credence to junk journalism. Ross Kemp should be relegated to the rubbish heap where he belongs. His reporting on the Roma in Europe and the gangs of LA as just as riddled with incorrect facts and sensationalism. Let’s call it what it is and move on. What we should be focusing on is why our country was newsworthy enough to be included in a piece on gangs in the world at large. If we do a little self examination we’ll find there is truth in what he reported, albeit his reporting was of a style that enraged us. Righteous indignation aside, Belize is sliding into a dark place where the gang anarchy and drug trafficking is frightening. Let’s save the diatribe and vitriol for the people with the power to change what’s happening in our country. Turning a blind eye to what is, will surely provide more fodder for the likes of Mr. Ross Kemp.
We need to all boycott Mr. Kemp. I am Belizean and travel to Belize frequently on business and have never felt uncomfortable. Most of the hard working people are very creative, and yes they may be standing on the corner, but its to sell some type of art or food not drugs. If anyone knows how to contact the telivision station trying to air this bogus information they should paste that link so we can all either call or e-mail them to show or disaproval. Only in numbers and we have the power to fight for our children back home suffering from poverty and the lack of education.
I am a Belizean and I can walk any where in Belize and feel safe, can u do that in ur country. I did not know one misfortune that happen Carnival Day can make u be the worse country. Check ur country first before u start judging other country.
God such sensationalizing garbage… Typical ‘Rag’ writeR, atypical of British Tabloid journalism….
If you can’t find what your looking for, just make it up… right Ross,
I should know, I left warm wonderul UK like a lot of other expats, tired of real crime, incompetent and wishy washy government, high taxes and just tired of the general whinging…
To the uniformed, Belize is one of the most beautiful places to visit, everything from Scuba and Snorkeling on the the barrier reef (Second Longest in the World) to walking the rain forests, visiting the ‘panti’ trail, climbing amazing Mayan ruins, and looking out over the Mayan Mountains to Victoria’s Peak in the morning with a good cup of coffee….
Warm, kind and wonderful people who have a great sense of pride in their country…Oh and a wicked sense of humour
‘The Doc’
Keep bieng real, First of all Drug exists because big users like the US, and big contries consume it in quantity, and fools with low self esteem, like to fantazize like “america” Let’s Be Belize!, Read Educate yourself, When People like Ross talk, He gives us issues, He makes us important, but no get into his believe, we know who we are and where we stand. Love yourself me brother and sisters, Belize is fi we and that’s why we care, and stand for it. Don’t let no fool try to fool us. Let’s Unite and live in Standard with Peace and Harmony. Russ should mind his own business the same way we mind Belize.
Love all fi u comments!
This is rediculous. How can you even considering refering to Belize as the sixth likely place to get shot. That is surely stretching the truth, don’t you think.
Belize is a third world country. No guns,drugs, plans nor ships are manufactured here. HHHMMMM makes me wonder are we as bad you this says or are they just doing what they always do, through stones and hide the hand!
Just watched this programme. The guy is saying that it is the drug cartels and corrupt politicians that are the real gangsters. The guys on southside may be gangbangers but they are really just the victims of the bigger gangsters using Belize, the ones that never get caught
At least this programme has started the debate. Ashcroft,Musa,Ralph and everyone else who gangsters Belize love it when our heads are buried in the sand….
First off, Belize is not the smallest country in Central America or the Caribbean. Secondly, I lived in Mexico and Guatemala; travelled most if not all of Central America and I know for a fact that Belize is not the most dangerous country in this hemisphere. I left Belize when I was 20 years old and returned at age 32 and yes it has changed and it is definitely more violent than it used to be but we have not reached the level of crime that you can find in Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, and many of the other Central American Countries. Mr. Kemp might have decided to report from Belize because it was safer for him to interview some lazy good for nothing individual on George street than it was to interview real killers (gang members) in Guatemala or El Salvador. Remember the Uni Bomber and the Oklahoma incident that claimed 168 lives and left over 800 people injured ? How comes that does not make the US more dangerous than us ?
Mr. Ross, I applaud you for your job. You seem to be a professional journalist whose goal is to portray and capture your audience attention. As a journalist you always have to be writing for you to survive. But here you FAILED as a journalist. ALL YOU SAID WAS WITH HIGHLY EXAGERATION (BULLSHEET as we Belizean would say). YOu are PORTRAYING A WRONG message of my PEASFUL COUNTRY. You are portraying as if gang’s weapon is grenade. We’ve only had one incident that a FOOL attempted to explode a grenade. Thanks to God the person did not know how to use it. It is ridiculous on your behalf to stereotype my country based on what 0.001 of our population does. BE REAL and PUT YOU LETTERS BASES ON FACTS and NOT CRAPS
I lived in Belize and yes it is a beautiful country but lately the crime has grown… I am from Honduras and i can compared both lands… In Honduras the fences of our houses are so high that we can’t see the street, alarm in hou and autos, no jewerly in the streets, etc… up to the day I left Belize 3 years ago, the people can walk in the street with their jewerly on, no alarms in autos or alarm in the house and there are houses that don’T even have fences… Belize ist by far more peacefull as other countries in Latinamerica.
B-more..B-lizean..as the crime rates and jobs oppurtunites decreases in belize so is it in the world..we gotta fine JESUS and trust in him only him can help us..in GOD we shall give our all…one life..one love..one nation under GOD…hay bolo and family..shereen, pauline..manny..big up mi b-lizean pipples u noe who u r…
Crime rates is up all over d world we cannot compare USA with bze …USA could swallow bze come on now…but we gotta try and make a changes as the people because bad publicity will still hurt the tourism industry & us…blessed..R.I.P LAY peaceful in belize mom..our sweet nana….
Dear Mr Ross
I am appalled that you visited my country in an attempt to highlight the negatives of a few select individuals when there are so many nice people in our country. We have lovely flora and fauna, beautiful beaches, mysterious mayan cites, wonderful caves, diverse cultures, great food and serene resorts all over our small jewel.
I am a Belizean. I have lived here all of my thirty one years of life. I have two children and I live in comfort and relaxation. So, no, Belize is not the hell hole you have been trying to sensationalize it to be.
Have you lived here? Have you spent enough time for you to recognize that the few who call themselves gangsters are a few lost souls who performed for their fifteen minutes of fame?
Have you been to the wonderful places in this country which would make you feel like you were in heaven? have you been to Punta Gorda? Have you been to Belmopan or Corozal or Caye Caulker? No, you visited Belize City, one small area of the country.
I would have thought that a foreign media personnel would have been better trained.
Mr Ross Belize is a jewel. If you were honest you would accept that. Get real cause you wont win any peace award for your lies.
I have not seen Mr Kemp’s video but would be quite interested to see it and try my best to forumlate an unbiased opinion. I was born and raised in Belize City: early childhood – Victoria St., Pre-teen – New Rd., and then Port Loyola. I went to some of the best schools in Belize: Holy Redeemer Primary, SCA and SJC 6th form before migrating to the U.S. I love my country but we all know that things have drastically changed over the past 15 yrs.
I’ve been home every other year since 1998 and this year in April 2008, was the first time I can say I did not feel safe to walk around in my own damn country. I was home for 4 days and it was the most depressing time I’ve ever experienced. Twice that week there were shootings on Victoria Street where I was staying.
A few weeks ago my family just buried my cousin; 21 yrs. old shot in the head in St. Martin Depores. Every body is living like crabs in a barrel. Willing to turn on their own family for a buck! We have always been a country known for togetherness and strong family values. If its not drugs, guns, and gangs that is corrupting our country and tainting our reputation can someone please tell me what it is.
As for the statistics, of course the results will look alarming because we are working with a smaller population size. I hope Mr Kemp will go back and highlight that fact and not skew his data while presenting it in the manner stated. As far as talking to gang leaders…man i was a catholic school girl hanging with the biggest of them: Sany, Itza (RIP), Pisa, Juny Balls (RIP) and I can go on and on. A gang leader talking to you and sharing all the 411….I don’t buy that. So lets go back and touch up your work Mr Kemp. We will be patiently awaiting some concise, unbiased data.
i have to say at the monment in belize things are bad u find that these crime sprees are not forever they start and stop we are not the worst in the world or even in the region u will find that these crime sprees come in the heart of slow seasons for tourist whereas eventhoughit does not seem that way the money we get from tourism trickle down all the way to the streets whether we notice it or not it does affect evryone (tourism) as for crimes i am sure guatemala has many more semi automatic an automatic rifles and guns and grenade on thier streets as for death our death rate is high but our death count is low again do some homework an one can see all our major crime sprees are around august to october so in conclusion the one thing that prevents crime(tourism) is gonna go down with this video so in other words this video will screw belize an our peopl (i dont even want to call a documentary i call it stupid)
Well Mr. Ross, how dare you come into my country and talk so much crap ? I work in a Foreign Consulate here in Belize and the Citizen of the country whose Country I represent as a Consular Officer reads rubbish such as yours and gets a bad impression of Belize . Let me state also , Our highest economy is tourism , If foreigners read your rubbish do you think they will want to come here to visit , we lose by your lies and our country is struggling as it is . I am so dissapointed by your comments on Belize , if the crime is so bad here why would Belize be one of the top ten most desired places to live in the world?
Now , I have lived in England and to tell you the truth whilst living there I often wondered if I would make it back home safely ,on a few occassions there have been boom exposions in London and i was so happy that i was nowhere nearby that day ,
I have also lived in Germany . There were times when before My family and I got in our vehicles we had to stoop
down and check the bottom of our car before we got in to make sure there were no booms attached underneath , This was in the time when the IRA were placing booms on British Citizens vehicles to send as messages .
Mr. Ross, remember not long ago you had Doctors right there working in well known hospitals in England who were terrorist ? They placed explosions and caused deaths , right there in England ? What were the headlines in the london Newpapers ? “Those who heal you will kill you “?
You have stated that Belize is so so bad , Come on , get your facts right and give us a chance . We are tryinfg so hard to make it but how can we with people like you , putting us down ?
Mr. Ross you da lone rass….
We have six districts, 5 towns and 2 cities. you visited one of the two, which is the urban centre, where all the jobs are. jobs yes, but not enough for all the youths. so they turn to quick money. quick money leads to murder and many other bad things – that is what is happening in my country.
So Mr. Ross you came to my country for two minutes and your talking bullshit. if we were so bad u would have gone back to your country in a body bag or family would have be hoping that someone would discover body.
Get your facts straight…. you piece of british shit
Well we now how the media does it people. All we need to do is remember that the Bible had predicted all of this stuff would be happening in the ending times. lets just hope that we all living right because nobody can and will do more damage than satan can.And If you have your facts str8 then you will know that he is the ruler of this world system. So of course regulations and occurrences will resemble the way the he thinks. You ever hear of the term ‘getting away with murder’, of course only in satan’s system that can happen. God says what you do you will pay for; satan says you can get away with it. And you can at least for right now because this is his world. So ‘no trip’ my brethrens and sistrens, we live ya and we know how ‘fu we country stand’ so just spread the word. Check out my space and see what i have been doing for my lil Belize on the net. http://leonguild.home.services.spaces.live.com/default.aspx
This is just another example of an unqualified individual claiming to be a ‘Journalist’ and trying to make a name for himself. What a bunch a trash about Belize. I am a Belizean and have to laugh out loud about what this so called ‘Journalist’ is claiming to know about Belize. In my opinion, this is just another low life trying to make a buck. Good luck with that – Ross!
I was appalled at the gross exaggeration found in Mr. Kemp’s article. I had to ask myself, ‘Do I work on the Southside of Belize City? Is this the same place where i come to work everyday and leave at 8.30pm? I do not wear bullet-proof clothing to work, neither do i carry any type of weapon. Yet, I have been working as an educator in the Southside of the Belize City for 15 years!! I do agree that the crime rate has increased, when i first adopted this country as my own in 1983,burglar bars were unheard of. A woman using a broom to chase a would-be burglar out of her house made the front page of the weekly newspaper.To state that grenades are now the weapon of choice is painfully and outrageously exaggerated. There was one incidence when a grenade was used and people were hurt. In the second incident of a grenade use, the grenade failed to explode. Do these two incidences, alarming and regrettable as they may be, make the grenade a commonly used weapon?
Mr. Kemp, I do hope you realise some of the possible repercussions of your show? It will result in less tourists visiting Belize, more unemployment, more people being absorbed by gangs, and then you can return to do another show? Is it possible that you have some indecent hidden agendas in doing these programs?
I have to admit that while some parts such as the grenade were sensationalized, most of it is accurate and factual. We see the high crime rate everywhere we look. Do you feel safe getting chinese food at 2am?? Do you feel safe at a bar at 3am?? Would you feel safe living in Belize City without burgler bar doors?? Washington DC has one of the highest murder rates in the US, yet most of the people living there could answer yes to those 3 questions. For such a small country our crime rate is extremely high, maybe we require people like Kemp to make us aware of this!!