In the nineteen eighties the popular press often ran stories of how British fugitives from justice were living it up on the Costa del Sol. They could do so with impunity because extradition procedures between Britain and Spain simply didn’t work. However, the stories were never pursued further until the Cook Report took them up on what became known as the Costa del Crime.
This programme in 1991 was prompted by the assassination of Gary Thompson, the millionaire hot dog and burger overlord of the Midlands. He was murdered as he returned home with tens of thousands of pounds in takings in the boot of his Rolls Royce. He controlled all the best sites and those traders who did not meet his terms were subjected to intimidation, violence and fire-bombings. Thompson’s death sparked all-out war as rivals fought to take over his empire. It was a prize worth seizing. Over a weekend, big music and sporting events could produce an income of £250,000.
So-called "Friendly Fire" incidents; indeed this edition was later referred to by that title.
Roger Cook investigates The Triads in London and Manchester.
Roger Cook investigates the illegal adoption trade between Guatemala and the UK, and the involvement of freelance social worker Jim Wroe, who also worked for Islington Council.
Target number one: Nick Griffin, aged 38. Dedicated racist and the focus of our investigation.