The Richardsons by Fred Dinenage

This documentary is so titled presumably to distinguish it from documentaries about the Richardsons made by people other than Fred Dinenage; they have certainly featured in others. Although they were not as notorious as the Krays, Charlie and his brother Eddie both ended up behind bars, and both have become part of the East End gangster mythology. Dinenage talks at length to several people including and especially Charlie Richardson, who died five months after this documentary was screened. Eddie did not appear herein, apparently because the brothers were not on speaking terms, although at the time of writing he is still alive.

While most gangsters who have served their time like to live off their past misdeeds, Charlie says the crimes of which they were convicted, and for which he served eighteen years, were if not totally fictitious then greatly exaggerated. He even accuses the police of wilfully fabricating evidence. Perish the thought.

While his conviction stands and will stand for all time, we will probably never know the whole truth, but those who understand the workings of the British police, especially before PACE, will feel more charitable towards Charlie than the court historians.