ASIAN GANGS FACE LONDON CRIME WAVE CRACKDOWN

SCOTLAND YARD is mounting a drive against the growing power of Asian gangs
linked to muggings, drug dealing and protection rackets in London.

Tarique Ghaffur, the assistant commissioner in charge of specialist crime
operations, warned Asian communities yesterday that detectives would
concentrate on gangs and the spread of crime.

As part of the strategy, police are building up intelligence on heroin
operations, street crime and protection operations in South Asian
communities. These include Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri
Lankans.

Scotland Yard has formed special units to fight Triads in the Chinese
population and Yardie gangsters in the black community. Last year police
launched an attack on Kurdish and Turkish drug barons in the Green Lanes
area of North-East London.

Now police are worried about growing crime among Asian communities in
Newham, Ilford and Tower Hamlets in East London and Southall in West London,
where 80 per cent of the population is Asian.

Asian communities have a reputation for low crime rates but community
leaders have spoken publicly in the past year about their concern over the
spread of drugs and youth gangs. Police have also seen a rise in violence.
Three of the 36 gang murders in London in 2001 were committed by Asian
gangs, including a battle between Sri Lankans which left a 25-year-old dead.

Detectives believe that protection rackets are being operated among traders
and shopkeepers in Newham, Ilford and Southall.

Tower Hamlets has become a centre for drug abuse and is also linked to
street crime led by Bangladeshi gangs of youths with names like the Brick
Lane Massive and Stepney Posse. Last year a gang of five Bangladeshi men who
generated UKP12 million in six years were jailed after operating a heroin
and cocaine ring in East London. They also employed a string of young
couriers.

In 2001 an 18-year-old was seriously injured after Bangladeshi gangs fought
at a college in Tower Hamlets. In the 1980s a team of detectives smashed
Indian gangs in the Southall area known as the Tootinungs and Holy Smokes.
Police fear that new gangs are emerging that are heavily involved in heroin
and cocaine dealing. Last year patrolling officers in Southall were ordered
to wear body armour because of fears of a shooting war between rival gangs
with names like the Bhatts and Kanaks.

Scotland Yard's intelligence dossier also includes evidence of other crime
spreading in Asian communities. Detectives are investigating allegations of
prostitution involving women being brought to London as part of music
troupes which tour the communities.

The force is also concerned about the spread of bogus spiritual healers who
advertise widely in Asian newspapers and magazines and prey on gullible
communities.