It's a nice sunny afternoon; kids are playing in the street when all of a sudden two opposing gangs cross each others paths. The quiet sunny afternoon quickly turns into a gang brawl, with golf clubs and various weapons being swung around whilst young men punch each other senseless. This didn't happen out of sight - it went on in full public view as crowds of local kids watched the proceedings. The two opposing groups, after attempting to knock each other out, retreated to there cars and then the usual name calling and threats were shouted back and forth. A few minutes later they were back for round two, in a different spot this time, and it was reported that at least one of the participants was likely hospitalised.

Below - a photograph of one of the weapons that was used - a golf club can be a weapon of choice as it is not in itself illegal. When it's being swung at someone's head though, it becomes an offensive weapon and a very dangerous one. The golf club was broken in the brawl.

Can we get a witness?

The Police on the beat in Kirkby know that the odds of people appearing as witnesses are slim. Fights like the one witnessed above, are often not reported or are done so anonymously. No-one will intervene, gone are the days when local mums and dads could keep order in the streets - not that gang fights are anything new round here - but the viciousness is more apparent and more likely to take place in residential areas, despite the massive number of CCTV's being placed here.

Incidents like this are fairly common in Kirkby, the use of weapons has sadly become more common and the old fashioned 'straighteners' which would take place away from the publics gaze, are almost going out of fashion. Grudges or simple 'bad vibes' between individuals become mass grudges between gangs and the matter can flare up whenever members of the gangs are in the same pub or even pass each other in cars. The gang culture has always been big in Merseyside and other working class areas; the sheer destruction of our communities by the politicians has created prime conditions for gangs to flourish. This fight was one of 3 separate incidents all taking place around the same streets within the space of a few hours. The previous week saw another attack in the same area in broad day-light; an ambulance was called out to carry the victim away.

It only takes someone to wave a gun around and incidents like this could soon lead to the usual stray bullet hitting an innocent bystander. So far Kirkby has not seen too many guns being used although armed Police have been called out to gunfire being reported. Obviously the local gangsters not going to report if some-ones poked a gun in their face or taken a pot-shot at them.

Local Councillors seem clueless or even oblivious to the level of violence which exists here. New Labour, having slaughtered Iraqi's on a false pretence can only mimic the Tories and call for more people to be jailed. The UK has the biggest Jail population in Europe; and until we tackle the root cause then crime will simply flourish. When we have crooks and thieves calling themselves politicians, the local gangsters seem less hypocritical.