SCOTLAND is the most violent place in Britain, according to TV investigator Donal MacIntyre.

And the raw brutality of Glasgow's knife culture has stunned the presenter.

MacIntyre has gone undercover with football hooligans, shared a drink with murderers and roughed it with ancient tribes.

But the Irishman admitted yesterday: "Glasgow is one of the scariest places I have ever worked because the violence is so naked and raw.

"It's only when people come outside of Scotland, and particularly Glasgow, that they realise the knife culture there is really so predictable and using a knife is second nature to many kids."

On the country's blade obsession, he added: "They think nothing of taking a stab wound or inflicting it and they sew themselves up.

"They don't go to hospital If you talk to anybody in Glasgow or Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, they see twice as many stabbing victims as are reported to the police.

"So the crime statistics, bad as they are, aren't very accurate."

In 2004, he investigated the now dead Tam "The Licensee"

McGraw, Paul Ferris, Mark Clinton, and the legacy of Arthur "The Godfather" Thompson.

MacIntyre said: "I've spent a lot of time in Glasgow.

"I did a portrait with Paul Ferris, got some access to his world. His is probably the one film I've done where other gangsters say, 'There's a proper gangster.' "

But Scotland's cities are not alone in becoming more violent.

Shootings are increasing across the UK and questions have been raised as to how effective ASBOs are in dealing with youth crime.

MacIntyre said: "The streets are becoming more dangerous.

"There have always been gangs but now they are carrying more dangerous weapons.

"And teenage gangs are growing up so quickly. What we would regard as teenage behaviour now starts at about eight.

"The information overload - from porn, to drugs, to rap music and peer pressure - is more acute than it ever has been, over a much shorter period at a much younger age.

"Kids are growing up so quickly without tools like common sense.

"So you have 13-year-old boys smoking crack cocaine, whereas 15 years ago they might have been smoking cigarettes."

MacIntyre, 41, who moved to the BBC in 1993, worked for World In Action before fronting MacIntyre Undercover.

I'd still headbutt a Glaswegian.

They're Geordie Kisses, not Glasgow Kisses.

Bunch of kilted puffs.

I have watched that Macintyre show and read a book or 2 about the Glasgow gangs...
Yes they are a bit of a rum bunch up there for sure!
I've been several times and it is a nice city centre but some of the suburbs???

DO NOT ENTER!!!!

I saw on a survey that Glasgow or Edinburgh was voted the best city to live in a few months ago.

They must have spelt Newcastle wrong on this survey


Seriously out of the 2 you mention i would pick Edinburgh!
A genuinely beautiful place,i have been many times,lots of family in those parts!

I dunno, Chopper...Arthur "The Godfather" Thompson doesn't have quite the ring of Vito "The Godfather" Corleone...

No not really

His book the last godfather is quite interesting though,although i dont think you guys in the US would be to intrested.

UK organized crime is seriously underappreciated in the US. Think of all the colorful characters your underworld has produced: Fat Reg and Ronnie, Cornell, Jack the Hat...the list goes on and on. I really enjoyed "The Long Firm," Jake Arnett's novel based strongly on Sixties UK organized crime. "The Krays" was an excellent film, considerably enlivened by Billie Whitlaw and the Kemp brothers.

yep you cant move in buchanan street for kilts and assorted highland apparel nowadays

geordies, dont make me laugh, your accent is virtually scottish anyway

My pal has just lent me this book to read.

I have already read the Paul Ferris one!

Let me know what you think mate

Will do mate.

Nearly done with it Chops.
It's good but a bit unflattering to old Arthur eh?

Of course the same fella wrots this and Ferris' book so he has to suck up to Ferris cos he is still very much alive

Check out Mr. Ferris folks,

http://www.ferrisconspiracy.com

Wanna fight like eh?

Haway then, get ye fuckin' sleeves up, ye little puff.

It doesnt portray Arthur in a good way at all still a pretty decent read


Ferris is an evil bastard ,clever though

Bueller, Bueller, anyone?

Wow!! i know this...
i've stayed in glasgow for 2 years...
and this info was make me sick!

Arthur Thompson's "The Last Godfather", by Reg Mackay is an excellent read!

The bit in the 1960's when he goes down to London, and sees the Krays, sticking a sawn off in their faces is classic.

I've read Paul Ferris's "Vendetta" and thought it was good, but preferred Thompson's book.

I was shocked that Tam MacGraw died from a heart attack nearly two years ago. I read how he was an informer, for years so that he got rich and the criminals hated him, and how he had to hide behind his members and associates if people kicked off.

I have Vendetta lying around somewhere waiting to be read!

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A real nasty piece of work by all accounts!

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MiniMafiaBoss if you decide to copy and paste my articles at least mention the source and put up a link.

To all posters I banned MiniMafiaBoss from my forum because he was behaving like an asshole. I see he hasn't changed. I didnt expect him to copy my stuff though. I'd appreciate it if the webmaster would delete those posts. Thanks.

Sorry about that. We try to ignore him most of the time...