Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.GANGSTERS in London and other major cities 'do their own work', according to John McVicar. 'The people who do it are either running the show or hangers-on, close to the middle,' he said.
Wealthy criminals, such as drug barons, consider it too dangerous to bring in outsiders, because it can greatly increase the chances of being caught. 'People who can mount this sort of thing are not idiots - they know the game,' Mr McVicar, a reformed criminal, said. He is scornful of stories about teams of highly paid, freelance hitmen roaming London in search of work. If such teams exist, they are at the 'bottom end of the market', he said, and are often convicted.
Recent court cases serve to emphasise his point. Last year, at least 12 trials arose out of attempts to hire a contract killer to murder a wife, husband or partner. In three of them, the defendant had ended up 'contracting' an undercover policeman to carry out the work. In others, the killer was soon caught.
Defendants, in their efforts to find a killer, often alerted large numbers of people of their intentions, which became known to the police. Typically, the accused would contact a friend with a criminal conviction.
In some cases, contract killers can be hired for as little as pounds 3,000. In others, the fee is nearer pounds 100,000, although a price of between pounds 10,000 and pounds 30,000 is most common. Last month, a woman was jailed for life for hiring a hitman to kill her husband. Her lover and the killer received similar sentences for their part in the plot, which was uncovered when police checked the woman's telephone records. She had made a call to the hitman, who confessed during police questioning. He had been paid pounds 5,500.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments