Birmingham Gangs
- Elicia Maxwell
- Sep 4
- 4 min read
This article looks at some of Birminghams notorious formation of gangs across the city. It explores what is happening within the city and identifies some of the key members who are currently serving prison sentences. It provides a greater understanding to the culture of gangs and the operations criminal activity.
Birmingham 9BOYZ:
North Birmingham centred group of boys considering Newtown and B19 post code area their territory. It constitutes as Boyd’s dressed in black clothing with their faces covered by masks or balaclavas. Their main rivals are the Armed Response (AR) gang.
The 9Boys were one of many groups referenced by West Midlands Police gang expert during the murder trial of Sekou Doucoure. The 16 year old was stabbed at the Esso Petrol station in Hockley in July 2022. The jury was told he had associated with gangs from B20 and was riding in the rival B19 turf , riding along making him a target.
21 year old Yvan Ondaye was said to be trying odd his toughness to his associates in the 9BOYZ gang which he had denied being a member of. The victim was from the rival gang AR.
January 2021 keon Lincoln age 15 was stabbed and shot to death in broad daylight outside his home in handsworth. 4 teenagers were convicted of murder and we’re handed life sentences. It has been claimed that his killers were associated with the 9BOYZ and may have targeted him for knowing people from AR. On the first anniversary of his death a teenager was shot in broad daylight as a crowd gathered to remember him at Handsworth cemetery.
Armed Response (AR):
The gang is made up of younger criminals and was in the spotlight in 2016 when one of its members Reial Philips was sentenced to 27 years.
Diago Anderson and Zidann Edward’s both 20 years old were found guilty of attempting to kill a 13 year old boy in Hockley circus shooting leaving the teenager paralysed. They had shot him with a slam gun that constitutes as being a homemade shotgun. One of the pellets went through his spinal call leaving him paralysed.
A violent brawl had taken place in Levana Bar, Arcadian where Theo white has said to chuck a bottle. He was knocked to the ground unconscious but eventually recovered and joined the struggle in the car park. Rikardo Reid kicked white whilst he was on the ground. Shayne Campbell tried to stab him but slipped. Campbell, white and Ashai Gray were from the AR gang. Tyrell Meikle, Fabian Williams and Reid were from the Goon Squad Army. There were sentenced to a mix of immediate and suspended prison sentences
Reial Philips known as Lynch has appeared in a number of YouTube rap videos wheee he mocked his rivals from the Johnson Crew. In 2015 he as,tired conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and having ammunition of the same kind used in the shootings. He was also tried for possession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.
Ishmael Lee was said to be directing Reial Philips and Ashai Grey to sell cocaine and heroin. He was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court of two charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Jailed for 14 years.
Goon Squad Army:
Rikardo Reid - Also known as Birmingham rapper Stardom. After the incident in Arcadian with his rival gang he had fled the scene and was arrested at Heathrow Airport. He was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years. The rapper had racked up 14 previous convictions for public order and drug offences. As a teenager he was amongst five Johnson crew gangsters stung by police for peddling drugs in Erdington.
Get Money Gang (GMG):
Kwame Giwa was passenger in an Audi Q2 which was pulled over in Stafford. He flew the scene and threw a white iPhone on the floor. He jumped garden fences but was found by Staffordshire police and arrested. The officers stopped 5e Audi where they found 70 wraps of crack cocaine, two wraps of heroin and £888 in cash. He was jailed for three years and three months for possession and intention to supply.
Jones V Birmingham City Council [2018] EWCA civ 1189. The court of appeal upheld a gang injunction restricting the actions and movement of 18 members of a Birmingham gang. Jerome jones had unsuccessfully challenged the injunction.
West Midlands Police:
The police force issued a statement to Birmingham Live stating “we are committed to making our communities safer across Birmingham and are working around the clock to disrupt and arrest people linked to organised crime”.
Powers under Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to manage the behaviour of people believed to be involved in gangs and public place violence. Place conditions on people including non wearing of face coverings, exclusion zones and restrictions of the size of groups gathering. Issue people with community protection warnings, but if the behaviour continues they will be issued with community protection notices.
Until the next Legal Thought,
Elicia Maxwell
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