What do you think?
Rate this book
Crime Squad: Life and Death on London's Front Line
London 1988: PC Mike Pannett, fresh out of training school, had suspected life in the Metropolitan Police was going to be a bit different from rural North Yorkshire, but the 23-year-old had no idea by just how much. Sent south of the river to Battersea, then top of London’s crime league tables, Mike was thrown straight into the deep end – during his first drugs raid he ended up staring down the wrong end of a double-barrelled shotgun.
Mike’s arrival in London coincided with the explosion in crack cocaine use. In the early 1990s, Yardies – criminal gangs from Jamaica and the USA - flooded into the capital, starting in Battersea, where they brought all manner of guns with them, along with a live-fast die-young attitude. Rivals were ruthlessly eliminated and whole neighbourhoods fell under the control of drug gangs. Mike and his police colleagues fought back with extraordinary valour and inventiveness and with the support of the local community they started to turn the tide – but then came the unthinkable the murder in 1993 of PC Patrick Dunne, one of Mike’s colleagues, by Gary Nelson, aka ‘Tyson’, a criminal the national press described as ‘the most dangerous man ever to walk to the streets of Britain.’ Mike was drawn into the long and exceptionally dangerous hunt for Nelson that would go on to cost the life of another police officer.
Mike’s arrival in London coincided with the explosion in crack cocaine use. In the early 1990s, Yardies – criminal gangs from Jamaica and the USA - flooded into the capital, starting in Battersea, where they brought all manner of guns with them, along with a live-fast die-young attitude. Rivals were ruthlessly eliminated and whole neighbourhoods fell under the control of drug gangs. Mike and his police colleagues fought back with extraordinary valour and inventiveness and with the support of the local community they started to turn the tide – but then came the unthinkable the murder in 1993 of PC Patrick Dunne, one of Mike’s colleagues, by Gary Nelson, aka ‘Tyson’, a criminal the national press described as ‘the most dangerous man ever to walk to the streets of Britain.’ Mike was drawn into the long and exceptionally dangerous hunt for Nelson that would go on to cost the life of another police officer.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2016
28 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 14, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This gave a great feel of policing in the 80's and 90's in London, particularly with the change in drug culture and guns.
A great read.
This gave a great feel of policing in the 80's and 90's in London, particularly with the change in drug culture and guns.
A great read.
July 25, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
A very interesting and honest portrayal as a police officer in London. Gritty and realistic.
A very interesting and honest portrayal as a police officer in London. Gritty and realistic.
August 19, 2017
Good read - not one I would describe as 'enjoyable', though, as it was definitely rather sobering towards the end. Lots of bits still ring true in 2017, though times have obviously changed in many ways.
July 30, 2017
A fascinating insight into policing in the 80's. This is the first book i have read by Mike Pannett and it inspired me to read the other books in the series. A bit of humour as well as a touch of sadness in places. The thin blue line indeed. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
November 6, 2016
Super author
Love these books n as for "super cop" he's also a super author!! Can't wait for the next instalment!!!! Great read
Love these books n as for "super cop" he's also a super author!! Can't wait for the next instalment!!!! Great read
July 20, 2022
Crime Squad by Mike Pannett brought me to tears as I lived my life through a cop’s eyes. Having a problematic son who got into trouble often during his short life made these situations too close to home for me. I’ve had the cops ring my doorbell one too many times. My leaking faucet wouldn’t stop flowing from my eyes as I kept seeing my son. My life came to a grinding halt when my son put himself in a dangerous situation that ultimately led to his death at the age of 19. I wouldn’t want to be a police officer who had to deliver tragic news to the parents of a child who was murdered as Mike did.
Mike says, “The parents are going to remember my visit for the rest of their lives because this was the moment their lives were changed forever. I knew that my behavior, how I handled this, would have a lasting impact.” Mike knew his compassion had to come through, and police officers vary widely in their effectiveness at giving devastating news. How they deliver this life-altering news makes a lot of difference in how the parents handle the loss of their child. Mike did a great job sharing this traumatic news, as did the cops who gave me the information about what ultimately led to my son’s death. It doesn’t ease our pain but lets us know they care.
Even though I repeatedly cried during many of the stories. I couldn’t stop reading. Crime Squad is a must-read for everyone so we can understand what it takes for us to be protected. I can’t wait to read the next book.
Mike says, “The parents are going to remember my visit for the rest of their lives because this was the moment their lives were changed forever. I knew that my behavior, how I handled this, would have a lasting impact.” Mike knew his compassion had to come through, and police officers vary widely in their effectiveness at giving devastating news. How they deliver this life-altering news makes a lot of difference in how the parents handle the loss of their child. Mike did a great job sharing this traumatic news, as did the cops who gave me the information about what ultimately led to my son’s death. It doesn’t ease our pain but lets us know they care.
Even though I repeatedly cried during many of the stories. I couldn’t stop reading. Crime Squad is a must-read for everyone so we can understand what it takes for us to be protected. I can’t wait to read the next book.
August 21, 2023
Read this book after reading his other books of his time serving with North Yorkshire police (Yorkshire Bobby series)
I was a bit hesitant to read this as it was all before his wrote his other series, but i am glad to read it, good in depth details of incidents, wrote slightly different to his other series, didn't seem to be as fluent, but i would highly recommend it.
From his time on the murder squad to joining TSG it is all in there..... it does say at the end 'To Be Continued' so here is
I was a bit hesitant to read this as it was all before his wrote his other series, but i am glad to read it, good in depth details of incidents, wrote slightly different to his other series, didn't seem to be as fluent, but i would highly recommend it.
From his time on the murder squad to joining TSG it is all in there..... it does say at the end 'To Be Continued' so here is
May 1, 2019
Unsung Heroes, EVERYDAY.
A shocking indictment of modern day London, sickening in some aspects, this story only makes one proud that we have men and women heroes willing each day to put their life on the line to preserve peace and order, a battle against scum, with little reward, let this story be a testimony to bravery of them all, you each have our thanks.
A shocking indictment of modern day London, sickening in some aspects, this story only makes one proud that we have men and women heroes willing each day to put their life on the line to preserve peace and order, a battle against scum, with little reward, let this story be a testimony to bravery of them all, you each have our thanks.
February 10, 2019
Another excellent book by Mike Pannett.
This is a bit more serious than his "..., lad" series of books, there's no humour in this one at all.
That said, it really is a great read and I look forward to his next one!
This is a bit more serious than his "..., lad" series of books, there's no humour in this one at all.
That said, it really is a great read and I look forward to his next one!
January 1, 2018
Great read
A good insight to how policing a
Was back in the 80's and how things have now changed due to human rights
A good insight to how policing a
Was back in the 80's and how things have now changed due to human rights
January 27, 2018
on kindle
November 6, 2018
Really enjoyed this book great account of the times of a Bobby on the beat very well balanced book
July 19, 2018
This is a fascinating insight into day to day life as a police officer in London and shows what a great job they do. Catching and locking up one of the worst criminals in the UK through patience and persistence. My best friend did the same as Mike Pannett at a similar age. He was offered a job with the metropolitan police so he left the north and was dropped straight in the deep end in London, which for me made it all the more enjoyable to read.
December 2, 2016
Not as good as his 'life as a country cop'.
If I had read this before reading his 'country life as a copper books' I would have not read all his books. He's other books were interesting and a joy to read, but not this one. This is a disappointing end to a series of books that showed Mike Pannett as a gentleman country policeman. This read like Mike Pannett and his mates as the enforcers.
If I had read this before reading his 'country life as a copper books' I would have not read all his books. He's other books were interesting and a joy to read, but not this one. This is a disappointing end to a series of books that showed Mike Pannett as a gentleman country policeman. This read like Mike Pannett and his mates as the enforcers.
February 23, 2021
Fascinating ‘prequel’ to Yorkshire policing memoirs
I find Mike Pannett a very sympathetic and inspiring guy and this account of his early days in the Met is very informative. The Met’s loss was Yorkshire’s gain.
I find Mike Pannett a very sympathetic and inspiring guy and this account of his early days in the Met is very informative. The Met’s loss was Yorkshire’s gain.
October 17, 2020
An excellent book Mike and Kris. Thoroughly enjoyed it and whole heartedly recommend it to anyone who was in The Job in the 80’s, 90’s and noughties.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews