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Gun Law: Fighting Britain's Deadliest Gangs. Andy Hailwood
Andy Hailwood was an elite armed cop. He took down terrorists, drug barons, psychopathic killers and dangerous robbers, and at the height of Manchester's gang wars he was attending up to six gun incidents a day.
Having joined the police as a 16-year-old cadet, he witnessed riots in Moss Side and Toxteth, experiences that led him to join the Tactical Aid Group, a tough unit noted for uncompromising tactics. Four years with TAG saw him clash with football hooligans, protect supergrasses, and guard child killer Myra Hindley on her return to Saddleworth Moor.
He later transferred to the VO8 Firearms Department, whose hard-hitting reputation earned them fear, hatred and respect in equal measure from the underworld. He helped crack an IRA cell, ambushed top-level members of the notorious Cali drugs cartel and entered Strangeways Prison alone during a riot.
Laced with black humour,GUN LAW is the authentic inside account of those who daily risk their lives in pursuit of our most dangerous criminals.
â If you considered getting yourself involved in serious criminal activity in Manchester, the chances are you'd find yourself looking down the business end of his Heckler.â FRONT
'A graphic account of almost two decades in the firing line.' THE TIMES
'His writing has the no-nonsense, professional approach you'd expect from someone whose day job involved infiltrating prisons and crack dens.' CITY LIFE
Having joined the police as a 16-year-old cadet, he witnessed riots in Moss Side and Toxteth, experiences that led him to join the Tactical Aid Group, a tough unit noted for uncompromising tactics. Four years with TAG saw him clash with football hooligans, protect supergrasses, and guard child killer Myra Hindley on her return to Saddleworth Moor.
He later transferred to the VO8 Firearms Department, whose hard-hitting reputation earned them fear, hatred and respect in equal measure from the underworld. He helped crack an IRA cell, ambushed top-level members of the notorious Cali drugs cartel and entered Strangeways Prison alone during a riot.
Laced with black humour,GUN LAW is the authentic inside account of those who daily risk their lives in pursuit of our most dangerous criminals.
â If you considered getting yourself involved in serious criminal activity in Manchester, the chances are you'd find yourself looking down the business end of his Heckler.â FRONT
'A graphic account of almost two decades in the firing line.' THE TIMES
'His writing has the no-nonsense, professional approach you'd expect from someone whose day job involved infiltrating prisons and crack dens.' CITY LIFE
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 14, 2018
I'm slightly biased in my review as Andy Hailwood instructed me during my initial firearms course some years ago; I was actually recommended the book by a colleague also instructed by him. All credit to him though because he never mentioned that he had written a book on his extensive policing experience. I think he may have even told us that he "didn't believe in war stories" (i.e. bragging about your experiences) and given the amount he had to tell, that's admirable.
I have one overriding memory of Andy. We were carrying out a firearms exercise in a disused office complex in Oxfordshire. The scenario was pretty standard, i.e. armed suspect in building, so my firearms team had to maintain surveillance on the building before planning an entry, carrying out a search and neutralising the suspect. I can't remember the specifics of what happened but the exercise ended with a very aggressive entry and arrest of the suspect. As the lead officer (no. 2 on room entry) I went in hard with lots of shouting and swearing to get the suspect to comply with my commands which he eventually did. In the debrief an instructor from Hampshire Constabulary gave me a dressing down for being too aggressive and how swearing does not evoke the professionalism of the police service, etc. Fair cop I thought at the time but Andy clearly didn't agree with what was being said and as a straight-talking sort of bloke didn't have any scruples in disagreeing with the other instructor - "fantastic verbals Chris, excellent controlled aggression, I want to keep seeing that". If you read the book this little anecdote will chime with you, trust me.
Anyway, Gun Law is an excellent insight into the professionalisation of the police's use of firearms from the 1980s through to the 90s. It will appeal to both those interested in military/police/gang memoirs as well as those wanting to understand how the British police dealt with the rapid rise of inner city gun and drug culture throughout that period.
Cheers Andy. Five stars to you.
I have one overriding memory of Andy. We were carrying out a firearms exercise in a disused office complex in Oxfordshire. The scenario was pretty standard, i.e. armed suspect in building, so my firearms team had to maintain surveillance on the building before planning an entry, carrying out a search and neutralising the suspect. I can't remember the specifics of what happened but the exercise ended with a very aggressive entry and arrest of the suspect. As the lead officer (no. 2 on room entry) I went in hard with lots of shouting and swearing to get the suspect to comply with my commands which he eventually did. In the debrief an instructor from Hampshire Constabulary gave me a dressing down for being too aggressive and how swearing does not evoke the professionalism of the police service, etc. Fair cop I thought at the time but Andy clearly didn't agree with what was being said and as a straight-talking sort of bloke didn't have any scruples in disagreeing with the other instructor - "fantastic verbals Chris, excellent controlled aggression, I want to keep seeing that". If you read the book this little anecdote will chime with you, trust me.
Anyway, Gun Law is an excellent insight into the professionalisation of the police's use of firearms from the 1980s through to the 90s. It will appeal to both those interested in military/police/gang memoirs as well as those wanting to understand how the British police dealt with the rapid rise of inner city gun and drug culture throughout that period.
Cheers Andy. Five stars to you.
June 13, 2021
The book itself is an entertaining read, however I find it hard to work out whether he’s bloating up his “war stories”. At times it comes across as more special forces than police. He’s a real good memory as the details he’s remembered are phenomenal unless of course there’s bloating going on.
It’s not the worst book I’ve read and being fairly local to where this is based made it an enjoyable read.
Reads a lot like the Glory Boys and The Good Guys Wear Blue.
The annoying aspects of this book are the stories within stories and a bit of a tangent.
The author comes across as big headed and always clashing with the top brass who, if they didn’t agree with his way they were wankers!
It’s not the worst book I’ve read and being fairly local to where this is based made it an enjoyable read.
Reads a lot like the Glory Boys and The Good Guys Wear Blue.
The annoying aspects of this book are the stories within stories and a bit of a tangent.
The author comes across as big headed and always clashing with the top brass who, if they didn’t agree with his way they were wankers!
February 20, 2021
An okay book about armed policing in Manchester during the 80s and 90s. While reading about some of the cases and tactics was interesting there was too much comment on how most of the senior officers were idiots who wouldn't listen, etc.
In the end I feel like I struggled through just to get to the end, where it sort of peters out. I imagine Andy is a great guy to talk with, but the book was a bit all over the place. Stories within stories and hints at good lads and stupid senior officers who don't listen.
In the end I feel like I struggled through just to get to the end, where it sort of peters out. I imagine Andy is a great guy to talk with, but the book was a bit all over the place. Stories within stories and hints at good lads and stupid senior officers who don't listen.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews