Besides the extraordinary nature of London and its reputation as the most popular tourist city, it has another side, the criminal one. It is a completely different and mysterious London. A few people saw it from this perspective. This world hides a lot of interesting and, at the same time, terrifying and cruel stories. The most terrible criminal cases, the most famous mobsters and mysterious murders are associated with this city. So, what is the real story of London’s criminal underworld? Learn more at london-yes.
The emergence of gangs in the city
The abolition of child labour in 1833 was a significant impetus for the emergence of such criminal groups. Since then, no one could force a child to go to work every day. Thus, children spent a lot of time at home alone, while adults were at work. Having gotten bored, children, and especially teenagers, began to roam the streets with their friends. Later, such groups began to make some pranks and tricks. The general economic and social situation in the city also contributed to the spread of this phenomenon. One-parent families were very frequent back then. Children didn’t have their pocket money to buy sweets or toys. Therefore, thefts became common. Teenagers often stole cigarettes and alcohol, which promoted bad habits among the youth. Such petty crimes swept across the country. At first, the character and names of gangs depended on the area of the city. Later, groups began to form based on race, certain political views or social prejudices. Representatives of various subcultures often joined criminal groups as well. Adults started to join serious gangs in the 20th century.
London became one of the first cities with major problems with criminal gangs. In the 20th century, the city became the epicentre of street gang activities. One of the most famous was The Yiddishers, which concentrated in Whitechapel. It became even more popular in the 1930s when its representatives opposed the growing fascist movement. Another street gang was the Watney Streeters. It was based in the southern part of London and had a reputation as the most sadistic gang in the city. At that time, the Italian mafia was also organised and was headed by Charles Sabini. In general, there were many other similar groups in the capital of Great Britain, such as the Bethnal Green Mob, the Aldgate Mob and the Whitechapel Mob.
A London district known for its criminal activity
One of the most criminal parts of 20th-century London was the Soho district. This area is known primarily for its interculturality. The owners of local businesses were Italians, French, Greeks and people of other nationalities. On the one hand, this place provided excellent opportunities for cultural and gastronomic recreation, but on the other hand, it was a centre of illegal services. The architectural features of the district also contributed to development of such businesses. Soho featured narrow streets and small houses. Local basements often housed illegal casinos, while the cheap accommodation attracted prostitutes. The Hoxton Mob, an independent street gang, was based in the area between the two world wars.