The Krays and other criminals

[arch stanton]

It's a choice if you can handle yourself and fancy yourself as sharper than the average Joe. Quick route to money, a few cars and birds who like beak. The flip side is you're waiting for your door to get kicked in (and you better hope it's plod) and eventually you'll end up inside with harder people who will eat you alive. If you manage to overcome those hurdles you spend your days watched and even worse, watching. No trust in anyone, justifying it to yourself until eventually you're either back inside or badly done in.

Mugs game. These little dweebs in balaclavas bouncing round town, flipping scramblers through the street etc.... if only they knew how pathetic they are.

this

 

[Kurt.]

I’ve read extensively about this period in time in London on this subject, not through any morbid fascination, but purely through interest. The Krays themselves were not master criminals in any way, they were thought extremely good at violence, that’s not to be glorified but that’s the truth of it. They used threats of violence to extort a tax on other criminals who were far more successful. Weirdly though it’s widely agreed that Reggie would have been a very successful businessman in the straight world due to his business acumen.

 

[DavidH]

I’ve read extensively about this period in time in London on this subject, not through any morbid fascination, but purely through interest. The Krays themselves were not master criminals in any way, they were thought extremely good at violence, that’s not to be glorified but that’s the truth of it. They used threats of violence to extort a tax on other criminals who were far more successful. Weirdly though it’s widely agreed that Reggie would have been a very successful businessman in the straight world due to his business acumen.

And his brother [Poor language removed] it for him because he was off his head. Done the same myself, read all about them. One was a thug with half a brain the other was a psychopath.

 

[Kurt.]

And his brother [Poor language removed] it for him because he was off his head. Done the same myself, read all about them. One was a thug with half a brain the other was a psychopath.

The myth that they ran London has been peddled so much that their notoriety has grown over the years, The likes of the Nash family and even Freddie foreman himself were far more feared and far cleverer.

 

[chrismpw]

I’ve never understood the fascination with the Krays. They weren’t master criminals. They were caught early. Crap criminals I’d say.

Master criminals don’t get caught that easily. They spent their years in jail.

Yeah, great to look up to, what role models, eh?

An elderly neighbour came across the Crays when he worked in London. He says they policed the local community, using their tame thugs, better than the police did. Tells a story of some old dear who had her purse robbed. When the crays heard about it the purse and all its contents reappeared the same day.

If you crossed them, that's when you had trouble. Oh and if you weren't local and had something they wanted.

I get what you mean though - people are drawn to glorifying criminals. Just look at the number of murder mysteries on TV (the missus is obsessed- I'm convinced she's looking for tips).

 

[Kurt.]

An elderly neighbour came across the Crays when he worked in London. He says they policed the local community, using their tame thugs, better than the police did. Tells a story of some old dear who had her purse robbed. When the crays heard about it the purse and all its contents reappeared the same day.

If you crossed them, that's when you had trouble. Oh and if you weren't local and had something they wanted.

I get what you mean though - people are drawn to glorifying criminals. Just look at the number of murder mysteries on TV (the missus is obsessed- I'm convinced she's looking for tips).

@tommye might have 1 or 2 spare in his drawer

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Crays

 

[gonetomorrow]

There have always been types like The Krays since time immemorial. Greedy bullies basically - Nazis really.
The sad thing is how fascinated some of us are with the whole phenomenon.

 

[anton66]

Now they’re all running taxi and security companies.

 

[Jimishorts]

The sad thing is how fascinated some of us are with the whole phenomenon.

You could just as well be talk about the Ėv.

 

[Baines' left foot]

 

[Alan Whittle]

Reg; “What an extraordinary thread!”
Ron; “Yes, what beastly chaps.”

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

The gentrification of thuggery.

 

[gonetomorrow]

I must admit I was drawn in by The Sopranos crime series to the extent that I found myself rooting for the psychos, one of whom murdered an old lady for her life savings. I think the fascination partly is the ability of the gangsters to create fear and "respect". Maybe some of us wish we had that power in our own lives. I'd get served a lot quicker in Tesco that's for sure.

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

I must admit I was drawn in by The Sopranos crime series to the extent that I found myself rooting for the psychos, one of whom murdered an old lady for her life savings. I think the fascination partly is the ability of the gangsters to create fear and "respect". Maybe some of us wish we had that power in our own lives. I'd get served a lot quicker in Tesco that's for sure.

Great series...the tree cutting scenario is comical