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Gangster

2. The Yardies

Gangster

BBC

True Crime, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 β€’ 1.4K Ratings

πŸ—“οΈ 10 November 2023

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The story now takes us from the aftermath of the Handsworth riots in 1985 to the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, where we learn how violence in Birmingham was about to escalate to a whole new level. As the fires were extinguished and the shattered glass was repaired, there was relative calm for the remainder of that decade. The local homeboys of the Handsworth and Lozells districts of Birmingham quietly made their living through low-level crimes such as dealing weed and selling stolen car stereos. At the same time, the younger generation united to combat racism in their respective districts, but a new threat loomed on the horizon. A band of ruthless, fearless gangsters, who shared the same roots as the homeboys, were arriving in the UK, starting in London and then spreading to areas like Handsworth. They were the Yardies, and they aimed to muscle in on the action. Their brutality knew no limits, and with a life expectancy of less than 30, they were in a hurry. To counter this new threat, the homeboys decided to fight fire with fire and began to take up arms. In this episode, we will take you from the streets of Handsworth to the infamous Tivoli Gardens district of Kingston, Jamaica, as we reveal just how terrifying the Yardies' methods were. We will also explore how the police, through their newly formed Operation Trident, and the homeboys of Birmingham responded. It was during this period that the fledgling Johnson Crew began to emerge. Simultaneously, a more ruthless offshoot of the homeboys was taking shape, and one brutal murder ignited the fuse for the war that would follow, as the Burger Bar Boys first flexed their muscles. With crack cocaine flooding the streets, the sound of gunfire began to fill the city nights... Presenter – Livvy Haydock Series Producer – Hayley Mortimer Technical Producer – Nicky Edwards Producer – Patrick Kiteley Researcher – Megan Jones Archive Researcher – Nicola Han Fixer in Jamaica – Nick Davies Journalism Assistant – Tim Fernley Commissioning Executive – Louise Kattenhorn Assistant Commissioners – Lorraine Okuefuna and Natasha Johansson Editor and Executive Producer – Carl Johnston

Transcript

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0:00.0

That world has eaten up and spit out a lot of young and attractive guys.

0:06.0

This is the story of one of fashion's dark secrets.

0:09.6

I was overwhelmed.

0:10.8

I had never seen anything like this.

0:13.0

At the height of Abercrombie and Fitch's success...

0:16.0

This was me being carefully manipulated.

0:18.0

Being lied too tricked and traded like a commodity.

0:22.0

Investigating allegations that would take me into a world of money, sex, and power.

0:27.6

This is World of Secrets.

0:30.8

Season 1, The Abercrombie Guys,

0:33.4

Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:35.6

BBC Sounds.

0:37.6

Music Radio Podcasts.

0:41.0

You're about to listen to Gangster, the story of the Burger Bar boys.

0:46.0

Episodes will be released on Fridays wherever you get your podcasts, but if you're in the UK,

0:52.0

you can listen to the latest episodes early, first on BBC Sounds.

0:57.0

A quick warning. This podcast contains strong language and some descriptions of violence.

1:04.0

From BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live,

1:08.0

I'm Livyadok, and this is Gangster.

1:12.0

The Story of the Burger Bar Boys.

1:14.4

Episode 2. The Yardies.

1:17.6

Now how does the pistol work? When you pull back a slide,

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