Law Enforcement Bulletin
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If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. Q June 1990 Law Enforcement Bulletin t1!1 I 1t~,1t ,.,tli I ~O ¢t f The Yardies England's Emerging Crime Problem t une ,,0 Volume59 Law Enforcement Bulletin Number 6 k~ Features ] The Yardies: England's Emerging Crime Problem 1 By Roy A. C. Ram m ;~lL~6q_~ Towing Companies: Friends or Foes? 6 By Michael C. Gillo Facility Planning in Colorado: Form vs, Function 10 By James D. Munger and Edward Spivey I~q-(=~i~, Records Management in the 1990s 16 By Daniel L. Arkenau ~/oR'-'/ Page 8 21 B,L,O,C,mBusiness Leaders Against Organized Crime By Mike King }~q/~ 26 DNA Testing and the Frye Standard By Robert A. Fiatal /J~f'/~o I Departments 5 Focus 18 Research Forum t.~#,69"~ 8 Police Practices 23 Major Art Theft Page 26 14 Book Reviews 24 The Bulletin Reports United States Department of Justice Editor--Stephen D. Gladis Federal Bureau of investigation Managing Editor--Kathryn E. Sulewski Washington, DC 20535 Art Director--John E. Ott Assistant Editor--Alice S. Cole William S. Sessions, Director Production Manager--.Andrew DiRosa StaffAssistant--Carolyn F. Thompson Contributors' opinions and statements should not be considered as an endorse- The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ment for any policy, program, or service (ISSN-0014-5688) is published monthly by by the FBI. the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 10th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., The Attorney General has determined Washington, D.C. 20535. Second-Class that the publication of this periodical is postage paid at Washington, D.C., and The Cover: In England, an ethnically necessary in the transaction of the public additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send based crime group poses a serious threat business required by law of the Department address changes to FBI Law Enforcement to law enforcement. See article p. 1. of Justice. Use of funds for printing this Bulletin, Federal Bureau of Investigation periodical has been approved by the Washington, D.C. 20535. Director of the Office of Management and Budget. ISSN 0014-5688 USPS 383-310 i, q 6q5 ' Photos courtesy of Maggie Owens The Yardies England's -merging Crime Problem By ROY A. C. RAMM In January 1988, the British Unfortunately, disturbing in- occurring in areas where policing is press published accounts that formation came to light as a result of often difficult and dangerous. portrayed an upsurge in this inquiry. Distinct similarities Jamaican-based crime and the existed between what was begin- An Historical Perspective emergence of an organized crime ning to take place with regard to During the 1950s, while group within the United Kingdom organized crime in the United England was enjoying a post-war described as "The Yardies" or the Kingdom and what had been hap- economic boom, the British "Black Mafia." Shortly thereafter, pening in the United States for some Government encouraged immigra- Scotland Yard initiated an inquiry to time. The inquiry identified a pic- tion to the country to fill existing job identify the elements of Jamaican ture of ethnically based crime that vacancies. As a result, many Afro- organized crime, if it existed. was not only growing but was also Caribbeans immigrated in search of June 1990 / 1 a better standard of living. They tational. Policing ethnically sen'si- claim to be involved in the music mostly found unskilled employ- tive and volatile areas was dif- business as singers, musicians, ment, and because wages were low, ficult and demanding, although con- record producers or promoters, or sought cheap housing in the run siderable progress was made in disc jockeys when challenged. Al- down, inner-city areas. When the developing the citizenry's trust in though determining the nationality country's economic fortunes law enforcement. of those who arrive is difficult, changed, many in this new work However, the relationship Jamaica is by far the predominant force were among the first to feel the between law enforcement and low- country of origin. Entering the recession. Second-generation income, ethnic communities deter- country as tourists or to "visit rela- Caribbeans, in particular, found it iorated rapidly when a new influx of tives," Yardies usually assume difficult to match achievements immigrants arrived in the United false identities and carry forged with aspirations. Kingdom during the late 1970s. Un- credentials. Many have criminal Within the low-income, Afro- like those who preceded them, these convictions or are wanted by the Caribbean communities of Lon- immigrants did not adhere to a police. Because they are known don, crime is not unlike that found Christian work ethic, nor did they only by their street names to their in many major American cities. come seeking a better life. Rather, associates, they are extremely dif- Living in poor-quality housing-- they came as criminals, often fugi- ficult to identify. Some even travel often public or "project" hous- tives, to earn money from crime. on false or fraudulently obtained ing-the people comprise a dis- Gradually, these "Yardies" 1 distin- British passports. proportionately high ratio of the guished themselves from the local unemployed. Violence, usually communities. Pattern of Immigration drug related, continually plagues The United Kingdom became residents. Yardie Profile an attractive destination for Yardies Over the years, police rela- Yardies are generally single because of its long-standing as- tions with residents of these com- males between the ages of 18 and sociation with its former colonies in munities have often been strained, 35. They are usually unemployed, the Caribbean. Both share a com- and on occasion, violently confron- often by choice, although some will mon language and many cultural, social, sporting, and religious values--factors upon which legitimate immigration is built. Unfortunately, with the im- 4;I; migration of convicted criminals Law enforcement and fugitives, a criminal infrastruc- ture arose within the community agencies must ensure that is hostile toward the police and that Jamaican crime provides a refuge for fugitives. groups do not find a Clubs, bars, and house parties that niche in society.... tend to imitate Jamaican street life provide the venues for crime. Even though Yardies find sup- port in these established ethnic Detective Chief Superintendent Ramm is communities, the United Kingdom assigned to Scotland Yard's International and is not the destination of choice for Organized Crime Branch, London, England. them; that honor is bestowed on the United States. However, as Jamaican violence and drug traf- 2 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ticking has grown, U.S. immigra- musical events where drugs are Unfortunately, there is a tion authorities and other Federal distributed. greater willingness among agencies have become aware of the The traditional use of Jamaican drug dealers to settle dis- dangers posed by Jamaican gangs. marijuana has given way to cocaine putes with a firearm. The fatal The United States has made it in- and "crack cocaine." Here, the shooting of "Yardie Ron" on the creasingly difficult for Jamaican methods of production and distribu- streets of a busy London suburb criminals to gain entry into the tion of drugs emulates those of U.S. during the course of dispute involv- country; consequently, they have inner cities. Heavily armored doors, ing drugs evidences this fact. Eight been forced to look elsewhere, par- alarmed and protected by locks and shots were fired from three different ticularly to the United Kingdom. In many cases, though, Britain has simply become the staging point for entry into the United States on ...the Yardies who assimilate into fraudulently obtained British the community usually become involved passports. in drug-related crime. Yardies and Drugs Once in the United Kingdom, the Yardies who assimilate into grills, define the perimeters of drug weapons, an occurrence totally alien the community usually become in- houses. The use of pagers and to the United Kingdom. In some volved in drug-related crime. Such mobile phones are common among areas where the unarmed British crime is primarily introspective, that the dealers. Yet, the greatest con- bobby has struggled to gain the con- is, it is the community itself that is cern is the increasing use of fidence of the community, some damaged the most. Drug sales are firearms. Yardies routinely wear guns as made predominantly to other resi- macho displays. dents; violence, usually drug re- Firearms in the United Kingdom lated, is directed toward those who For the most part, British Yardie Organized Crime live there. Inevitably, and no doubt police are unarmed. Also, access to It is difficult to determine by as a direct economic necessity, the firearms by the general public is the intelligence gathered whether crime spills over into other areas of strictly controlled. In comparison Yardie or Jamaican crime is or- the community with burglary and with the United States, shooting in- ganized and comparable to other robbery being committed outside cidents are rare. crime groups like the La Cosa the defined areas to fund drug The most common criminal Nostra. Yet, one key element of or- abuse. use of firearms is during an armed ganized crime--providing illegal In many ways, the cultural robbery, although discharge of the goods or services--is clearly evi- strengths of the Afro-Caribbean weapon rarely occurs. For example, dent in Jamaican crime groups. communities are being debased and in 1987, shots were fired in only 79 Without question, these groups are abused as vehicles for serious crime. of the 18,102 robbery cases involved in supplying marijuana, Organized Jamaican reggae parties recorded by the Metropolitan Police cocaine, and to a certain extent, are used frequently to conduct drug Force in London. Of the 685 prostitutes. They also use force and transactions.