GanglandVol. 2: The underworld in Britain and Ireland

In "Gangland", his survey of London's underworld, James Morton concentrated on the history, personalities and powers behind the capital's criminal fraternity.

In this companion volume he turns his attention to the country as a whole, assessing the role of the criminal families, gangs and organizations in Britain's major cities.After a concise overview of the London scene, including families such as the Krays, the Sabinis and the Richardsons, Morton embarks on a nationwide tour of robbery, extortion and vice.

From Glasgow's hard men to the burgeoning drugs market on Manchester's Moss Side, the book discusses the people and places behind the profession of violence, documenting the histories, fads and feuds, and offering views on the crimes themselves.The book also contains chapters on the role of women in organized crime, the growing significance of the drugs trade to all but the most petty of villains, and the incidence of criminal activity in the world of sport - in particular the practice of doping in horse and greyhound racing.

Crime in Ireland is examined in detail, and the author assesses to what extent a cross-over exists between the worlds of the pure criminal and the political terrorist.