Hamilton   10 #1 Posted September 19, 2005 Does anyone have family stories about the dailt lives and activities of the gamblers and gangsters of the 1920's or the policemen who went roung beating them up/ I cannot understand why they did not gang up on the coppers or attack their homes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Dannyj   10 #2 Posted September 19, 2005 My Great grandmas Brother, Married Sam Garvins Daughter Anne. I remember talking to uncle "Iron" when i was a kid, he was a complete gentleman, so maybe it was a respect that the older generation had for the Police at that time.  The only conversation i had about the gang wars themselves was with my great grandad Albert (Belch), all he said about the Bobbies at that time was that they were "Bloody Huge", so i suppose we have to draw our own conclusions! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
deadgobby   10 #3 Posted September 19, 2005 cannot understand why they did not gang up on the coppers or attack their homes. [/b] because the coppers would go round thier homes and beat the crap out of them, then lock them up for not respecting the law!!!! this is in the days before political correctness,as in the coppers hands were not tied.they could enforce the law Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
extaxman   10 #4 Posted September 19, 2005 My dad used to tell me about someone who got arrested for assaulting a policeman. When he got in the dock he tried changing the charge to attempted suicide! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
timo   10 #5 Posted September 20, 2005 Didn't a Glasgow Inspector by the name of Shillitoe introduce brutal [and well deserved] tactics, effectively battering the various gangs into submission? My late paternal Grandmother claimed this was so.  Oddly enough, I have met a man who claimed to be Shillitoe's great grandson. However, I do not think that he has inherited the 'hard as nails' genes of his ancestor. He is an interior designer in Southport. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Hamilton   10 #6 Posted September 20, 2005 According to J.P.Bean a solicitor named Harry Morris became disgusted at the police tactics of battering the gangsters. When one of his clients who had been battered was in court swathed in bandages, the police were saying he "fell down," Morris retorted, I change the plea to attempted suicide. Bean worked from court records and newspaper reports, but I am more interested in family stories. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Andy   10 #7 Posted September 20, 2005 http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=659  There are a few books about this too, if people are interested. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
muddycoffee   10 #8 Posted September 20, 2005 I have read the JP bean book and what a tremendous book it is too.  It would make a superb film..  A bunch of extremely hard coppers hand picked for a special duties squad.. That bang the living daylights out of the gang leaders before they knew what had hit them.  I understand that "the Sweeney" as they were later called were used in london but invented during this time in sheffield. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
ANTHONY Â Â 10 #9 Posted April 8, 2006 I'm a bit late getting this off 'cos I've been away from the forum for some time. Percy Sillitoe was the Chief Constable in Glasgow who whacked the gangs there with unortodox methods. The Home Secretary of the day had him posted to Sheffield to do the same. As Sir Percy he subsequently headed MI5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
peterw   10 #10 Posted April 8, 2006 I'm a bit late getting this off 'cos I've been away from the forum for some time. Percy Sillitoe was the Chief Constable in Glasgow who whacked the gangs there with unortodox methods. The Home Secretary of the day had him posted to Sheffield to do the same. As Sir Percy he subsequently headed MI5  Wrong way round I think. Percy Sillitoe was chief constable of Sheffield and his policy was to meet force with force. When the gangs went out in force, the police met them by going out in tens. His policy worked. He cleared the gangs from Sheffield and was then appointed Chief Constable of Glasgow where he did the same thing. His success led to a knighthood, and as Sir Percy Sillitoe he was given the top job at M.I.5  Sheffield, incidentally, was the first force in Britain to have a Flying Squad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
retep   68 #11 Posted April 9, 2006 Does anyone remember the police rhino whipping scandal 1963 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Arfer Mo   10 #12 Posted April 9, 2006 my father was a taxi driver in the days of the gangs and after taking 4 of them to doncaster races never got paid and dare not complain under threat of a bunch of fives! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...