Homicide and Organised Crime: Ethnographic Narratives of Serious Violence in the Criminal Underworld (Palgrave Studies in Risk, Crime and Society)

This book offers rich ethnographic and narrative accounts of men who have been engaged in serious violence and organised crime in the West Midlands of England, using several theoretical paradigms. Through case study examples, it also considers contract killers and the nefarious position that ‘hitmen’ occupy in the criminal underworld. By charting insider perspectives from retired law enforcement agents, informants, ex-military personnel and ex-offenders, this book speaks to those who have a vested interest in violence, organised crime and ethnography. Foreword 7 Acknowledgements 12 Contents 13 List of Figures 14 Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology 15 Abstract 15 Exploring Violent Practice: Focusing on Homicide and Organised Crime Within the West Midlands 16 Research Philosophies and Methodologies 20 Ontology and Epistemology: Making Sense and Approaching Harm Within Criminal Groups 20 Research Methodologies 23 Dash-Cam Ethnography 23 Case Study 26 Ethnographic Content Analysis 27 Narrative Criminology 29 Overview of the Book Chapters 30 Unique Contributions to the Field 32 References 33 Chapter 2 History, Homicide, Organised Crime, and Theory 39 Abstract 39 A Brief Overview of History and Industry of Birmingham and the Wider Region 40 Historical Patterns of Violent Crime, Birmingham’s Earliest Criminal Groups and Working-Class Masculinity 42 Post-war Birmingham: Working-Class Identity, Neoliberalism, and Consumerism 47 Homicide 51 Situational Explanation of Homicide 52 Cultural Explanation of Homicide 53 Instrumental Explanation of Homicide 54 Organised Crime: Definitions and Ambiguities 56 Theory 61 Ultra-realism 61 Psychoanalysis 64 Bourdieu 66 Concluding Comments 68 References 68 Chapter 3 Contract Killers and Glocal Organised Crime: A Case Study of the ‘Baby-Faced’ Assassin 76 Abstract 76 A Note on Hitmen 77 Approach to the Case 80 Jimmy Moody: A Legacy of Fear 81 Peter O’Toole: The Baby-Faced Assassin 84 The ‘Glocal’ Underworld 91 Discussion 95 Concluding Discussion 97 References 98 Chapter 4 Drugs, Guns, and Organised Crime: A Case Study of the Journeyman Hitman 101 Abstract 101 Approach to the Case 102 The Murder of Richard Deakin 103 Organised Crime, Local Geography, Local History 104 Investigation Results 106 Two Other Incidents 111 Fatal Violence, Organised Crime and Criminal Entrepreneurship 114 Concluding Discussion 116 References 118 Chapter 5 Violent Men: Trauma, Humiliation and Scenarios of Harm 121 Abstract 121 ‘Never Show Love on the Streets, Love Can Get You Killed’: A Biographical Account of Clive 123 ‘Emotions Alone Can Get You 35 to Life’: Biographical Accounts of Marco and Zane 137 Concluding Discussion 144 References 145 Chapter 6 Homicide and Organised Crime in Birmingham, West Midlands: Future Directions and Closing Comments 148 Abstract 148 Recommendations for Policy, Law Enforcement and Academics: Future Directions and Potential Implications of the Study 152 Closing Comments 154 References 155 Index 157 Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Introduction and Methodology (Mohammed Rahman)....Pages 1-24 History, Homicide, Organised Crime, and Theory (Mohammed Rahman)....Pages 25-61 Contract Killers and Glocal Organised Crime: A Case Study of the ‘Baby-Faced’ Assassin (Mohammed Rahman)....Pages 63-87 Drugs, Guns, and Organised Crime: A Case Study of the Journeyman Hitman (Mohammed Rahman)....Pages 89-108 Violent Men: Trauma, Humiliation and Scenarios of Harm (Mohammed Rahman)....Pages 109-135 Homicide and Organised Crime in Birmingham, West Midlands: Future Directions and Closing Comments (Mohammed Rahman)....Pages 137-145 Back Matter ....Pages 147-151 This book offers rich ethnographic and narrative accounts of men who have been engaged in serious violence and organised crime in the West Midlands, England, drawing on several theoretical paradigms. Through case study examples, it considers contract killers and the nefarious position that â#x80;hitmenâ#x80;#x99; occupy in the criminal underworld. By charting insider perspectives from retired police officers, informants, ex-military personnel and ex-offenders, this book speaks to those who have a vested interest in violence, organised crime and ethnography