Joey Pyle: Notorious - The Changing Face of Organised Crime

The Krays, the Richardsons and men like Buster Edwards or Freddie Foreman may be better known to the public, but by the end of the sixties they were either in prison or living in enforced exile, Joey Pyle was (and continues to be) every bit as notorious, feared and respected. His broad range of criminal contacts and associates ensured he was either involved in or very much aware of every major criminal escapade that took place. From the murder of Jack the Hat by the Kray twins to the Great Train Robbery, from the fatal shooting at the Pen Club to the American Mafia's attempts to penetrate London's casino scene, Pyle has seen it all. Yet, despite a few close calls - including a spell in prison on a murder charge that would have seen him hanged if found guilty - Pyle remained at liberty throughout. He saw firsthand the nature of organised crime change from the protection rackets and casino scams of the sixties, through the highly organised armed robberies of the seventies, to the rise of the drug trade which began in earnest in the eighties and continues to the present day. He is therefore able to provide a fresh perspective on many well-known crimes as well as a wealth of information about hitherto unknown aspects of criminality.