Murder trial deep dives into gangs in Suffolk and Norfolk

Alfie Hammett and Joshua Howell were given life sentences after being found guilty of killing the 18-year-old from Wymondham in Westgate Street in January last year, motivated by a “deep-rooted gang rivalry”.

During the trial the prosecution set out a number of links between gangs in Ipswich and across the border in Norfolk. 

Detective Chief Inspector Tamlyn Burgess on the steps of Ipswich Crown Court following the sentencing of Alfie Hammett and Joshua Howell. (Image: Jude Holden)

After the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Tamlyn Burgess called the murder a "horrific and completely senseless act of extreme violence".

She said: “Gang violence nationally is an issue for us all and unfortunately in Suffolk we are no different.

"We’re engaged actively with the local schools going in to educate both children and parents.”

Superintendent Andy Martin said the number of convictions show what Ipswich was then. (Image: Suffolk police)

Superintendent Andy Martin said the work over the last 18 months is beginning to show as officers look to use a range of tools to tackle the issue.

Operation Hull, Suffolk Constabulary's response to gang criminality launched in the wake of an increase in serious youth violence which saw a spike during the summer of 2022. 

In the past, serious youth violence were being reported on a weekly basis. 

Spt Martin said the force's work to secure a number of Criminal Behaviour Orders was a huge tool in reducing activity as the order stopped a person entering a certain geographical location. Many of the orders granted have been at the maximum penalty of five years. 

Operation Hull has resulted in 75 arrests made, 40 with charges and 26 convictions as of March 2024. 

Spt Martin said: "The convictions we are seeing now are as a result of intense activity over the last 12 to 18 months. It is a reflection of what Ipswich was then and not a reflection of what Ipswich is now." 

He said it was important to understand more about young people's movements and make sure they had support in the locations they move to, keep providing partnership work to ensure young people were not recruited.

He added officers would continue to "not take the foot off the gas" fighting gang crime. 

Here is an overview of the gangs: 

Third Side

The gang, sometimes stylised 3rdside, is involved in drug supply across Norfolk and operates in opposition to Only The Money (OTM).

Alfie Hammett, who murdered Raymond James Quigley of OTM last year in January, is a member of Third Side and he is known in the gang as LA.

Joe Dix, who was killed by OTM gang members in January 2022 was a member of Third Side, he was also known as Zino. Hammett had the order of service for Dix’s memorial in his room.

Ipswich Crown Court has previously heard that a video of one of Hammett’s associates assaulting an OTM member, who was one of Quigley’s friends, was found after police confiscated the associate’s phone in a young offenders institute.

OTM

Only The Money or OTM is the gang Raymond James Quigley was associated with.

Mr Quigley, 18, was from Wymondham (Image: Suffolk Police)

Quigley made drill music along with another rapper nicknamed Boosie.

Quigley’s older brother, Edward, has been sentenced for being part of a Norwich county lines operation called the ‘Lewis’ line.

The three convicted of the murder of Joe Dix were all affiliated to OTM.

OTM are linked with J Block according to the prosecution's opening statement in the murder trial.

IP3

This gang opposes J Block and is based in the Nacton and Gainsborough wards of Ipswich. It is sometimes called the Nacton gang, IP3, The Three or Neno.

Joshua Howell, who was convicted of the murder of Raymond James Quigley of OTM along with Alfie Hammett, was said to be associated with the Nacton gang.

However, he claimed during the trial that he was just childhood friends with those affiliated and not actually a member.  

It has a hierarchical membership and is involved in drug supply according to the prosecution's opening statement in the Howell and Hammett murder trial.

By the end of 2022, IP3 was associated with Norwich Third Side gang.

Previously, it was a rivalry between Neno and another Ipswich gang called J Block that led to the death of Tavis Spencer-Aitkens, 17, who was stabbed 15 times in June 2019. 

His killers took action after what J Block perceived to be a loss of respect following a row between two of the killer's friends and two of Tavis' friends on the day of the killing.

Tavis Spencer-Aitkens (Image: Archant)

J Block

J Block has ties to the Jubilee park area of Ipswich and is linked to OTM.

It operates in opposition to IP3.

The five who were sentenced for the killing of Tavis Spencer-Aitkens in 2019 were J Block members.

Clockwise, from top left: Kyreis Davies, Callum Plaats (convicted of manslaughter), Isaac Calver, Adebayo Amusa, Aristote Yenge were sentenced for Tavis's murder. (Image: Suffolk Police)

In April 2023 five members were jailed for crimes including a stabbing in broad daylight in the town-centre and the supply of class A and B drugs.

YSF

According to the prosecution's opening statement in the murder trial of Howell and Hammett the YSF gang is an offshoot of J Block.