Bernie Silver

Bernie Silver
Conviction(s) Murder

Bernie Silver was a leading crime boss in the London underworld of the 1950s to 1970s, active in prostitution, pornography and racketeering. He has been described as "a working-class East Ender with a taste for fine restaurants and flashy clothes."[1]

Silver's rise to prominence began with the absorption of the remants of the Messina Brothers prostitution operation into what came to be known as "The Syndicate",[2] a criminal organization headed principally by Silver and "Big Frank" Mifsud.[3] During the heyday of the Syndicate (1967–1972), most of the Metropolitan Police Obscene Publications Squad were in its pay, including the squad's head, Detective Chief Superintendent Bill Moody.[4]

Silver's influence began to wane as the 1970s wore on, a decline prompted by major investigations into police corruption that by the end of 1972 had led to the resignation of eighty detectives.[5] The discovery of a detailed ledger of the Syndicate's police payoffs during a raid on the home of Silver associate Jimmy Humphreys led to the dismissal or forced retirement of hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers;[6] corruption trials in 1976-77 resulted in thirteen detectives—including two ex-Commanders, the highest-ranking British police officers ever to be convicted of corruption—being sentenced to a total of 90 years in prison.[4]

Silver himself was convicted in 1975 of the murder of Tommy "Scarface" Smithson, but later cleared on appeal.[7]

The film character Lew Vogel in the film The Bank Job is based on Bernie Silver.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Paul Willetts, Members Only: The Life and Times of Paul Raymond, Profile, 2010, p.182.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Donald (2008). Villains' Paradise: a History of Britain's Underworld. Pegasus Books. p. 282. ISBN 978-1-933648-17-0.
  3. ↑ Stewart, Graham (29 September 2010). "The red-light revelations of Gino & Co". The Times. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Muir, Andrew (4 July 1994). "Jimmy and Rusty: It was a small event at Southwark and it ended in small jail sentences. But Jimmy Humphreys in better days (right) was a Caesar of Soho, and his wife Rusty, an empress of vice. When they come out, how will they supplement their pensions?". The Independent. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  5. ↑ Fennel, Phil (1978). "Book Review: The Fall of Scotland Yard". Crime, Law and Social Change 2 (3): 359–367. doi:10.1007/BF02741901.
  6. ↑ Jenkins, P; G. Potter (1986). "Organized Crime in London: A Comparative Perspective". Corruption and Reform 1 (3): 165–187. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "Obituaries: Cdr Bert Wickstead". The Telegraph. 24 Mar 2001. Retrieved 28 November 2010.

Further reading

Cox, Barry; John Shirley; Martin Short (1977). The Fall of Scotland Yard. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-052318-9.
Tomkinson, Martin (1982). Pornbrokers: Rise of the Soho Sex Barons. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-907080-41-3.
Wickstead, Bert (1985). Gangbuster. Futura Publications. ISBN 0-7088-2478-1.