Ross Kemp (pictured) continues his investigation of gangs around the world.
Tonight he uncovers the secret world of Bulgaria's Gypsy gangs. With an estimated population of 12 million, the Roma Gypsies are the biggest ethnic minority in Europe. An often marginalised minority, the Roma are reportedly involved in drug trafficking, pickpocketing and human trafficking.
Kemp's journey begins in London. When Bulgaria joined the EU in January 2007, London saw an increase in crime, with 250 crimes being committed by Gypsies each week. Kemp meets with the London Transport Police, who recognise that they have a growing problem with Gypsy gangs from Bulgaria and Romania. It is reported that the two nations have a deal between them; the Romanians operate above ground, the Bulgarians below ground.
Kemp travels to Sofia to discover if the allegations against the Roma are true and, if they are, what impact the Gypsy gangs are having on the streets of Britain. "Bulgaria is an interesting story," says Kemp. "The Gypsies estimate that £200,000,000 is stolen by pickpockets on UK streets every year. We spoke to prostitutes who dream of moving to the UK to work the streets here because they can earn so much more."
Meeting with several Gypsy gangs, Kemp witnesses the overcrowded inner-city ghettos they live in and learns how they are often used as political punch bags by Bulgarian far-right politicians, eager to turn anti-Roma sentiment into electoral gain.
I watched the gangs programme on Bulgaria and can honestly say that this is not the country I have seen. My wife and I spent 20 days in August touring Bulgaria in a hire car. We started in Sofia which I must admit was a little intimidating like London, New York or any other major city. Everywhere else we visited we were made very welcome. The country is poor but the History, Countryside and people stand out against many other European Countries. In the towns the young people have an amazing sense of style. Ross, I think you owe it to all Bulgarians to restore a balanced view of this wonderful country. First have a look at some of the photos I took at http://the-wallace.family-photos.net/ click on holidays then Alan and Margaret then send me a mail with an idea of how much your production company wants to spend 10 days shooting in Bulgaria including your fee for presenting it. I will raise the money to pay for it.
alan@internet-matters.net
September 19th - 5:35pmRyon said...
I don't understand how Mr. Kemp could've done this and be satisfied with himself. It is one-sided and the statistics he gave are completely false. Look at his source. He wants people to believe that our beautiful country is a war infested land run by gangs and violence. Did Mr. Kemp interview anyone not gang or police related who could have given him a perspective of what was happening? Did he try to interview any head official in government? Did he even ask if there were any programmes in place or anything being done to try to minimize gang violence in Belize? If Mr. Kemp's intention was to stomp Belize into the ground as one of the worse countries to be in, then he should be proud that he got through to those, like himself, who do not know any better. There isn't a country on this planet which does not have it's share of violence or gang affiliated activities, but there are also the good people and law enforcement officials who do their best to keep it under control. I was very appalled that someone could even come into our country and be able to get away with advertising this misleading crap to an international audience. And those Belizeans who have no Belizean Pride or sense of patriotism should be ashamed in aiding this foreigner in compiling such a biased and non-factual documentary. I guess the payoffs and television exposure was too sweet to resist; but attempting to give an overly exaggerated and false representation of Belize is pass the mark. At any rate, I suggest that audiences do the research for themselves and find out what's REALLY going on. Don't take Kemp's version at face value. GET YOUR FACTS AND STATS IN ORDER KEMP. A DOCUMENTARY SHOULD BE ABOUT FACTS AND REALITY, NOT A HYPED UP TELEVISION SHOW WHICH JUST WANTS A RATINGS BOOST.
September 19th - 4:34amMarco said...
Mr. Kemp: The film you had made about Belize's crime and gang violence is so not true. You never gotten your fact together and many of the facts and comments you made in the film are false. More over you have twisted the words of one of the person you were interview on film to totally opposite of what he was saying to suit your need of the film to portrait that Belize is such a crime and gang violence infested country. Yes we do have crime and gang exits in our country. Can you find me a country that does not have such problem? The good and the bad always exits in any society. As where you came from UK, I am sure there is gang violence, but everyone still lives their life according to their needs. But you have portrait the film only by your standard and for your need to make the negative more negative. It is not fair to us as a country. I understand that the films and series you have made is about gangs but then you are not doing us justice. More over you have misled the viewers and audiences that the country is such crime infested. You have no idea how much freedom this country has to offer and compare to where you are from. You have no idea of the daily life in Belize. I have agree to Belizean Pride said about you, cause really it is a dis-respect to our country and to our people. And you as just like your ancestors, come here and rip us off. You can sleep in the nights peacefully but you have no idea when your film has air, it has affected us tremendously,and the effect will keep on going further. You have no idea what you have done to us as a country and people of Belize. If there was a possible warning of knowing you were filming in Belize, I am sure all the Belizean will be voting against it. YOU must have paid off lots of people to make these interviews and fake information.
September 18th - 8:22pmFrance Westby said...
What Mr. Kemp has done major injustice to Belize in presenting such documentary. There is a lot of beautiful things about Belize and it is not a fact that 98 % of the crime are not gang affiliated. reporters like Mr. Kemp are vultures and in doing this, this documentary does a great injustice to our developing nation. As there are many positive thing coming out of the gang movements and the programs available to youths which was not highlighted. Moreover, Britain has raped our country of its natural resource and continues to do so with vultures like Michael Ashcoft and Mr. Kemp. You are certainly not welcome to Belize !!!!!!!!!!
September 17th - 10:44pmBelizean Pride said...
GET YOU FACTS TOGETHER A** H****!! YOU NEEDED A TOUR GUIDE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT THE MESS THAT YOUR COUNTRY DID TO BELIZE. DESPITE THAT BELIZE IS STILL TODAY A MEMBER OF THE COMMON WEALTH COUNTRIES. READ AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND GEOLOGY, HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY BEFORE YOU WRITE WHAT YOU HAD JUST POSTED. I HOPE THE MONEY YOU MAKE ON THIS BOOK/VIDEO, WOULD MAKE YOU LIVE A LITTLE LONGER. I DON’T THINK THAT YOU MADE ENOUGH RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WONDER AROUND THE STREETS OF BELIZE. YOU HAD TO BRIBE SOMEONE TO GET SUCH VIDEO CLIP, WHY DON’T YOU TURN IN ALL THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO YOU GOT INVOLVED IN THIS CLIP SO THAT WE CAN START TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MESS!! A S S H O L E!!
September 17th - 9:21pmPAUL BROWNE said...
when politicians decided to let romaina & bulgaria into the into the E.U they never done any research into the poverty of these counties U.K to them is like a fat cow bursting with milk,they will kill to get here and you better get in there way,there should be a investigation to hold the both E.U and british politicians accountable for this gross miss conduct, it will get worse.Britain is fastly becoming the crime prostitute of europe. and we just let it continue.
(3 Star)
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