Brighton Police Scandal: A Story of Corruption, Intimidation & Violence

In the late 1950s, the reputation of Brighton as a popular seaside resort took a sinister turn when suspicions arose that the owner of the Astor Club, known globally as "The Bucket of Blood," was bribing members of the town's CID to ignore licensing hours. Scotland Yard's Flying Squad was called in, and their investigation revealed a deep-rooted police corruption iceberg. Criminality among crooked cops went on for years, with charges dropped, previous convictions overlooked, and evidence disappearing. Police were involved in burglaries, fencing of stolen property, and protection payments from bookmakers, clubs, and bars. The scandal-filled trial of the Chief Constable and CID ringleaders included perjury, violent witness intimidation, and the burning of one witness' premises. This meticulously researched account provides insight into one of Britain's most publicized police corruption scandals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 04 October 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

In the late 1950s, the reputation of Brighton as a popular seaside resort took a sinister and notorious turn. After a series of drunken disturbances, suspicions were raised that the owner of the Astor Club, which became known globally as "The Bucket of Blood," was bribing members of the town's CID to ignore licensing hours. The situation escalated to the point where Scotland Yard's Flying Squad was called in. Their investigation soon revealed that these bribes were the tip of a police corruption iceberg. Criminality among crooked cops had been going on for years. Provided money was paid, charges were dropped, previous convictions overlooked, and evidence disappeared. Others were "fitted up" unless they paid up. Police were party to burglaries, assisting in the fencing of stolen property, and protection payments from bookmakers, clubs, and bars. During the scandal-filled trial of the Chief Constable and CID ringleaders, there was perjury, violent witness intimidation, with one having his premises burnt to the ground. All this and more is described in this meticulously researched account of one of Britain's most publicized police corruption scandals, written with insider knowledge.

Weight: 560g
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399017282