Britain's Crime Capitals: Birmingham

Beverley Thomas by the grave of her daughter

The second episode of Britain's Crime Capitals goes out tonight at 9pm on Channel 5 (and, obviously at 10pm on C5+1). This episode focuses on Birmingham's gang culture and the steps being taken to change it.

I met Beverley Thomas, whose daughter Charlene was shot dead in 2003. We spoke at Charlene's grave. As we walked back to the car she pointed out the graves of at least four other young people whose lives had been cut short by street violence.

On another occasion I met an interesting character who was subjected to a sustained machete attack by a group of people he took to be his friends. They left him for dead by a park in Handsworth. We took him back there for the first time since it happened. The resultant interview is worth watching.

I hope you can spare the time to catch the programme tonight, or view it after transmission on Demand 5.