manchester's gangs
Salford A catch-all term for the firms that operate out of the Salford area of Greater Manchester. They're predominately white and the main split is by age - one older firm of thirtysomethings and a younger firm of lads, mainly under 25. However, unlike other gangs Salford also clearly splits along family lines as well.
Cheetham Hill Chiefly a black and mixed race gang operating out of the Cheetham Hill area of North Manchester. They're currently the tightest of all the gangs in the city and despite the relatively small size of Cheetham Hill they're arguably the largest single crew.
Gooch A mainly black gang that operates out of the Moss Side area of south central Manchester. They take their name from Gooch Close and are split by age. The older original thirtysomething members have started to move away from the area, though the younger trigger kids are still predominately Moss Side residents.
Doddinton A mostly black gang that also operates out of the Moss Side area of south central Manchester. They take their name from Doddinton Close on the West side but, unlike Gooch, the younger trigger kids dominate, as fewer older original members are still actively involved.
None of these crews are homogeneous and all of them are riddled with affiliations and splits between independent crews.
Christmas 1989 Cheetham Hill turn up at Discotheque Royales. When doormen attempt to bar their entrance one is badly beaten up. Later players simultaneously enter the club through three fire exits, guns are drawn and punters are taxed (the method by which club-goers are forcibly made to hand money over with threats of violence if they do not).
1990 The unorganised beginnings of a door war between Cheetham Hill and Salford spark at Konspiracy. Violent taxings of the night's takings become the norm. In Spring 1991, the police decide to close the club.
Summer 1990 The long-running illegal club The Kitchen suffers numerous taxings. Promoters complain that it has now just become a hang-out for local Moss Side brass. It is closed after the back studio is taxed.
Christmas 1990 After a number of turn-aways at Piccadilly 21, the manager starts receiving live ammunition in the post.
January 1991 After months of ferocious gang violence and intimidation t The Hacienda closes to protect staff. It re-opens with an airport-style metal detector at the entrance.
June 1991 Six doormen at The Hacienda are stabbed. The assailants had managed to evade the new metal detector. Ten people are arrested.
August 1991 Moss Side's Doddinton are down the front of the Papa San gig at the International II. Cheetham Hill enter the venue from the back and attempt to shoot them over the heads of gig goers. Doddinton return fire. The International II stops hosting reggae gigs.
October 1992 CS gas canisters are let off on a packed dancefloor at Funhouse at The PSV. The following week a student is caught in crossfire and wounded in the leg. These actions culminate in the closure of the club.
June 1992 Several Salford lads are refused entry to Most Excellent at the Wiggly Worm. They return in a stolen car and ram the entrance. The action forces the closure of the club.
June 1994 Despite a relatively trouble-free night at an Underground Sounds jungle dance at UMIST Students' Union a young man is shot and wounded on nearby Sackville Street. Future dances are cancelled.
August 1994 The sell-out Monday jungle dances at Home are cancelled after three weeks. Management say they cannot ask their staff to suffer physical and verbal abuse from "gangsters high on crack".
April 1995 A doorman from The Hacienda, 26-year-old Terry Farrimond, is shot dead near his home in Swinton.
Summer 1995 The habit of letting guns off into the ceiling of The PSV during dances gets out of hand when someone lets off a pump-action shotgun. The police pick so many bullets out of the ceiling that whenever it rains the club floods. The following month three girls are hospitalised by ricochets. Future events are cancelled.
Autumn 1995 After several drive-by shootings, the door war over control of Home culminates in running battles inside between 40 balaclava-clad Salford hooligans and police. The club closes.
March 1996 Holy City Zoo closes to install £55,000 worth of security after a Salford man goes round randomly hitting people. Eleven casualties and two hospital cases.
May 1997 Three Asian youths drive by a club and try to shoot the doormen dead.
June 1997 18-year-old Andrew Delahunty is assaulted outside The Hacienda. He sustains a fractured skull and spinal damage. The police make moves to revoke the club's licence.
July 1997 A doorman is followed home by two youths. When he makes a pit stop at a garage he's shot and wounded in the leg.
Responsibility for security in clubs and on doors
"Manchester city centre has one of the highest densities of licensed premises outside of London. Irrespective of this fact, its levels of recorded violence remain comparable with cities like Liverpool, Newcastle or Leeds."
The allegation that "club owners and promoters are left to police their venues without adequate back-up from GMP".
"GMP does provide back-up and support to licensees, promoters and managers. A dedicated plain clothes unit regularly meets with licensees and makes visits undercover to identify and arrest drug dealers and other criminals. The Central Licensing unit at Bootle Street meets with all new licensees and offers advice and support.
"It is not true that we seek to close venues down at the first sign of trouble, rather the reverse. It is only as a last resort that we seek to oppose or revoke a licence, although where it is necessary we do not shy away from taking action. In the last two years, in respect of only four licensed premises in the city out of hundreds has revocation been sought. Even in those cases advice and support had been provided and had not been acted on.
"Overall GMP has a long-standing and good relationship with the licensing trade, breweries and local authorities aimed to work in partnership to improve safety and the quality of life. The police are fully committed to making the city ever safer and we will
continue to play our part in partnership alongside others."