General Chat

Make good stories, suppose it goes back to the Robin Hood thing. Glorifies things. Germaine x

Yes Christine you are right I had forgot about that. When you really start to think no they weren't nice people. I know when I read the book I was amazed how (think it was Reg) seemed to come acroos that he didn't think he had done anything really wrong. And isn't it funny like you said they have beautiful graves and people like your grandad are left forgotten. Germaine x

I really don't know what to think about them. Have seen the film and read a book. The thing is as bad as they were they didn't hurt Joe public. They wouldn't have gone round robbing old ladies so I think there are a lot worse round nowadays I heard a story once of them going to Blackpool a local gang met them at the staion and sent them back home, didn't want them on their turf. This was in the 60's I think or late 50's. It is just the tortures they used that gets to me. Suppose there is a lot worse about now. Germaine x

Difficult for me to comment. I went out with someone who was a policeman who knew them. Joy

Hi Bryan Sorry but I agree with Louise and Nell. Please think about life back in the 1960's and how different things are now to what they were then. There is NO WAY the Krays kept order they were dangerous criminals, they made money out of other working class people and their misery how anyone can think they helped keep the streets crime free is beyond me, they weren't a voluntary police or even vigilante group they dealt with people who crossed them violently they didn't care about anyone else, you could be caught in the middle innocent or not it wouldn't matter. They were North of the River and the other BIG gang was the Richardson's who were Southside both gangs sought to instill fear in people and thought they could get respect by spreading rumours of Mafia connections. I eventually went to live in a road they (Krays) left their mark on for many years after their violence Amhurst Road was known for the club they owned near the flat at Evering Road where they killed a man, their most famous enemy the Krays certainly left their bloody mark there for their involvement in that totally barbaric killing. I really think sometimes people look back to their past with rose tinted glasses, what they wish to call the 'good old days'. With the Krays there was NOT any good old days. In the 1960's yes you could leave doors and windows open, you could tell other peoples children off if they did something wrong infact I remember people hitting other people's children, times change and that would not be acceptable now, would anyone allow their children to be smacked by a neighbour? People in the 1960's really did not have anything to steal, so why not leave your door open your neighbour had nothing either, the pawn shop had the old man's best suit most of the week and anything else worth a few bob. London had many gangs North, South, East and West of the Thames some more feared than others, The Krays and the Richardson's being the most dangerous, although there was the Elephant gang at the Elephant and castle who were busy at war with the Richardsons. My Aunt who lived near shoreditch (North) remembered the 'Hoxton mauling' the Krays supposed to be boxers found out how they enjoyed beating people nearly to their death everyone in the area believed thats when they really got to enjoy violence, that was the start off their love affair with blood. Ok law abiding citizens, even hard working people may never come up against the horrible violence of these gangs, who never worked never believed in working, they earned money on the working people's backs. Please remember that the Krays became too greedy and out of control full of their own importance and eventually could not be over looked by the boys in blue. Their greed and paranoia like all criminals seem to eventually suffer from got them in the end as happens in a violent World violent breeds violence, its always the innocent that suffer in the end. Pat x

I agree with Nell too. In my opinion the Krays were criminals, nothing less and nothing more.

I have differing opinions on the Krays, they were after all gangsters and criminals but as you say people could leave their doors open on their turf....no one was going to break in!! The people they were hurt were also criminals and thugs...thus cutting down on Tax Payers money to keep them in prison! That said...they were criminals and therefore, deserved to be in prison. When Richardson came out of prison...he was met by a friend and while walking down a street a group of lads came towards them and would not give room on the pavement...Richardson (as he always would have done in the past) was all for giving them a thump but his friend stopped him and told him you can't do that anymore.....these lads would turn round and beat you too!!!! He learnt fast!!! Things had changed. Jacquie xxxx

thanks louise...i slept wednesday,had a good day yesterday,but having a bad day today...but,everyday in everyway,i will get better. i can only give my views of the krays,as i see it,and read about their lives...we all agree that violence is wrong,but if what the krays did ,in there inner circle,was wrong...so is the abundance of crime today,where victims are chosen at random. bryan.

My M-I-L was broken into recently, as were a lot of her neighbours. Everyone on the estate knew the guy who was doing it, but the police couldnt pin anything on him!! A lot of the victims knew a handy bloke (this happens when you live in a tight knit community). Needless to say the burgular is now having problems injecting his heroin, due to broken fingers!!! Justice??? I think so! Karen

Helen is quite right. Sorry to disagree with you for once bryan xx

I agree Bryan - they did give a lot of people a lot of respect and help. The murders they were guilty of were of other gangsters who were guilty of such crimes themselves. Better the devil you know? Kaye x

Bryan If you rely on criminals to reduce crime by extortion, torture and murder, I think you can't possibly claim to be civilised. Especially since these criminals were self-appointed. nell

every day,we turn on the radio,or television,and we hear of beatings,rape,and murder...quite often of children....and i think,if only the krays were about today...would this be happening. bryan.

You can't fight violence with violence bryan. Hows your injuries flower? Are you feeling better today? louise xx

Am watching it now Bryan and I agree Stel.xx

yes susie,but i've read lots about their lives...for instance,if any toe rags miss-behaved,they would give him a slap. they often did more good,than the police. bryan.

I agree Bryan I have seen the film many times and read quiet a lot about their lives, from folk both involved with them and folk who got on the wrong side of them...... but all say that they had and gave respect!!! I think they were unjustly tried!! karen

I presume you have it on the TV now Bryan? As for their crime it was a long time before me!! X

i think they cut down crime in london...yes they hurt people,but only the bad guys...what do you think. bryan.