448:"Harry Roberts is our friend, is our friend, is our friend. Harry Roberts is our friend, he kills coppers. Let him out to kill some more, kill some more, kill some more, let him out to kill some more, Harry Roberts" as well as "He shot three down in Shepherd's Bush, Shepherd's Bush, Shepherd's Bush. He shot three down in Shepherd's Bush, our mate Harry" (to the tune of "
255:, post offices and banks. He said, "The most I earned was £1,000 from a single job. Witney was the eldest, the boss: he knew the best places to rob. Duddy joined us later." In 1959 Roberts and an accomplice posed as tax inspectors to gain entry into the home of an elderly man. The man was bound, robbed, and beaten about the head with a glass
392:
It was reported in
February 2009 that Roberts hoped to be freed from prison within months, having already served 42 years in jail and completing the first stage of a parole board hearing; he believed this would pave the way for his release. Roberts hoped a final hearing would find that at the age of
365:), said that he has no remorse for his victims and recreates the murders in art and pastry decorations, making apple pies and decorating them with pastry cut-outs of policemen being shot. Kray said that he also produces "precisely drawn and coloured" paintings depicting someone shooting a policeman.
393:
72 he was no longer a risk to the public and that the parole board would order his immediate release. At this time he had already served 12 years more than the minimum term recommended by his trial judge who at the time of sentencing told
Roberts that it was unlikely that any future
388:
in reaching a decision to free him by the end of the year. In
December 2006, he was again turned down for parole. On 29 June 2007, he was given leave to seek a High Court judicial review over his failed parole bid, with the judge saying his case "was of great public interest."
301:
1,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest. Roberts used his military training to evade capture for ninety-six days, but was finally caught by police while sleeping rough in a disused airfield hangar on Blount's Farm, Sawbridgeworth, near
1089:
167:
approved his release, at the age of 78. Having far exceeded his minimum term of 30 years, he was one of the United
Kingdom's longest-serving prisoners, having remained in custody since 1966. His release was controversial due to the nature of his crime.
1004:
410:, said that there would be widespread anger among serving and former officers. Legal sources said they believed that the parole board was likely to recommend that he was eligible for an open prison as a way of preparing him for release.
397:
would "ever think fit to show mercy by releasing you on licence... This is one of those cases in which the sentence of imprisonment for 'life' may well be treated as meaning exactly what it says". It was recognised that
1093:
402:
ministers were concerned that any decision on the matter would provoke public fury and that
Roberts' safety might be put at risk but the parole board would nonetheless be powerless to halt the release.
1014:
406:
Supporters of
Roberts had previously claimed that successive Home Secretaries have blocked his release for political reasons because of fears of a public backlash. Peter Smyth, chairman of the
1328:
285:
Following the shootings of 41-year-old Police
Constable Geoffrey Fox, Detective Sergeant Christopher Head, aged 30, and 25-year-old Temporary Detective Constable David Wombwell in
1343:
232:. Of his service in the jungle he said that this was where he learned to kill and that he had "personally killed at least four". Roberts has claimed that he reached the rank of
954:
1283:
160:
in London. Roberts feared the officers would discover firearms his gang were planning to use in a robbery. He killed two, while one of his accomplices shot dead the third.
436:
approved his release at an unspecified later date. Roberts was released on 11 November 2014 after serving 48 years in prison (from 15 November 1966). He was 78 years old.
1278:
264:
1308:
1318:
1273:
480:
mantra with the words replaced with "Harry
Roberts." The band also recorded a single dedicated to him titled "Hat Trick for Harry," but it was never released.
248:
said that
Roberts "gloated" about his killings while in prison, and had "acquired a taste for killing prisoners on the orders of his officers" in the Army.
251:
After leaving the Army, Roberts returned to his criminal activities, and in partnership with Jack Witney carried out "dozens" of armed robberies, targeting
673:
877:
195:. Roberts later described how the family owned a café in north London where his mother was "...selling on mostly food—tea and sugar—and sometimes
1288:
319:
1303:
1116:
574:
323:
217:
1268:
489:
221:
315:
117:
1338:
612:
381:
private phone calls between
Roberts and his solicitor. The material was then introduced as evidence at his parole hearings.
297:, until the winter set in and he moved inside farm buildings. He was familiar with the area from visits there as a child. A
452:"), which originated with groups of young people outside Shepherd's Bush police station after Roberts had been arrested.
1189:
774:
433:
164:
1214:
803:
749:
704:
639:
399:
1333:
1298:
196:
662:
415:
407:
362:
1323:
1293:
449:
271:
this time. It is to be hoped you do not appear before us again." Roberts received a sentence of seven years.
1152:
206:
after using an iron bar to attack a shopkeeper during a robbery. Roberts served a 19-month sentence inside
157:
280:
141:
455:
There have been artistic representations of Roberts. The character of Billy Porter in the 2001 novel
977:
848:
469:
203:
551:
1313:
384:
In September 2006, 70-year-old Roberts applied for a judicial review over apparent delays by the
1263:
318:
with a recommended minimum term of 30 years. The murders occurred just eight months after the
241:
477:
303:
290:
207:
107:
1258:
1126:
584:
327:
185:
8:
1009:
418:, retained the power to reject a parole board recommendation that Roberts be moved to an
377:
over the use of secret evidence to keep him in prison. The evidence had been obtained by
1062:
925:
897:
191:. As a child he became involved in crime by helping his mother sell stolen goods on the
792:
444:
Roberts has become a cultural figure among anarchists and football hooligans, with the
286:
1210:
1185:
1005:"Jack Straw faces questions over alleged intimidation by police killer Harry Roberts"
882:
799:
770:
745:
700:
635:
608:
378:
358:
229:
156:
estate car, in which Roberts and two other men were sitting in Braybrook Street near
153:
878:"He shows no remorse... he even bakes apple pies with pastry pictures of his crimes"
457:
426:
225:
820:
1121:
1036:
722:
668:
579:
289:, West London, to avoid capture Roberts used a tent to hide in Thorley Wood near
133:
429:
where Roberts was working on day release, that he made violent threats to them.
330:
of life imprisonment. While in prison, Roberts made several attempts to escape.
268:
978:"Police killer Harry Roberts to be freed after 42 years in jail - Times Online"
720:
McSmith, Andy (8 November 2007). "The lost wars: Britain's Malayan campaigns".
445:
394:
374:
298:
145:
1240:
1229:
1252:
338:
294:
1157:
737:
385:
342:
245:
237:
233:
192:
552:"ITN Reporting 66: The way to Braybrook Street: the life of Harry Roberts"
473:
462:
419:
334:
1182:
No One Likes Us, We Don't Care': The Myth and Reality of Millwall Fandom
411:
346:
101:
853:
533:
516:
422:
but he could not block a decision by the board to order his release.
350:
252:
71:
697:
Hidden Wounds: Problems of Northern Ireland Veterans in Civvy Street
930:
902:
825:
256:
177:
137:
47:
152:. The murders took place after plainclothes officers approached a
210:
1117:"Police killer will ask High Court to clear way for his release"
849:"Police killer Harry Roberts to be freed after 42 years in jail"
575:"Police killer will ask High Court to clear way for his release"
163:
After Roberts had spent nearly 48 years in prison, in 2014 the
149:
216:
One week after leaving the borstal, Roberts was called up for
1329:
Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by England and Wales
260:
181:
51:
314:
Roberts was convicted of all three murders and sentenced to
188:
341:
within months after allegations that he was involved in
1344:
Military personnel from the London Borough of Redbridge
955:"30 Years at Least For Police Killers - Times Archive"
537:. No. 56808. London. 7 December 1966. p. 10.
1284:
British people convicted of murdering police officers
520:. No. 56712. London. 17 August 1966. p. 1.
1063:"Harry Roberts: Police killer released from prison"
465:, and the 2008 TV adaptation, is based on Roberts.
267:, said, "You are a brutal thug. You came very near
1279:British military personnel of the Mau Mau Uprising
791:
661:
634:. London: John Blake Publishing. pp. 92–146.
425:In April 2009, it was alleged by the owners of an
531:"Woman says Roberts told her: 'Yes, it was us'".
326:in England, Wales and Scotland and substituted a
1309:English prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
1250:
976:Ford, Richard; Brown, David (28 February 2009).
847:Ford, Richard; Brown, David (28 February 2009).
1319:People convicted of murder by England and Wales
1274:British Army personnel of the Malayan Emergency
764:
514:"Detectives armed in hunt for dangerous men".
876:Kray, Kate; Ridley, Mike (17 December 2000).
373:In 2005, Roberts failed in his appeal to the
259:. Roberts was arrested, and at his trial the
320:Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965
202:In his late teens, Roberts was sentenced to
1114:
1087:
875:
655:
653:
651:
606:The Murders of the Black Museum: 1870-1970
274:
1150:
1037:"Police killer Harry Roberts to be freed"
975:
846:
625:
623:
621:
309:
952:
946:
659:
509:
507:
505:
199:. Anything she could get her hands on".
184:, on 21 July 1936 where his parents ran
1002:
736:
719:
694:
648:
572:
490:List of longest prison sentences served
353:, who interviewed Roberts for her book
240:although others have given his rank as
1251:
1179:
1090:"Why they chant the cop killer's name"
818:
618:
546:
544:
524:
502:
244:. Journalist and former armed robber
224:, with whom he saw action during the
1209:. Blake Publishing. pp. 97–98.
1204:
1146:
1144:
953:Hamilton, Fiona (13 December 1966).
789:
629:
222:Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
213:, and was released in January 1956.
1289:British people convicted of robbery
957:. London: archive.timesonline.co.uk
783:
660:Bennetto, Jason (12 October 2004).
13:
1304:English people convicted of murder
926:"Review for police killer Roberts"
541:
439:
434:Parole Board for England and Wales
165:Parole Board for England and Wales
132:(born 21 July 1936) is an English
14:
1355:
1141:
898:"Police killer loses parole case"
333:In 2001, Roberts was moved to an
573:Burrell, Ian (17 October 2002).
1234:
1223:
1198:
1184:. Berg Publishers. p. 65.
1173:
1115:Ian Burrell (17 October 2002).
1108:
1092:. icSouthlondon. Archived from
1081:
1055:
1029:
1003:Bingham, John (20 April 2009).
996:
969:
918:
890:
869:
840:
812:
758:
730:
676:from the original on 9 May 2022
1269:20th-century English criminals
1088:Ryan Kiesel (9 January 2007).
819:Rohrer, Finlo (16 June 2006).
744:. London: Artnik. p. 55.
713:
688:
599:
566:
470:Happiness is Just a Chant Away
408:Metropolitan Police Federation
1:
765:Russell-Pavier, Nick (2016).
495:
450:London Bridge Is Falling Down
171:
1339:Royal Green Jackets soldiers
337:. Roberts was returned to a
81:Released on lifelong licence
7:
1151:Tim Adams (22 April 2001).
767:The Shepherd's Bush Murders
483:
140:who in 1966 instigated the
10:
1360:
368:
278:
265:His Honour Judge Maude QC
123:
113:
99:
95:
85:
77:
67:
59:
30:
23:
1125:. London. Archived from
1013:. London. Archived from
583:. London. Archived from
663:"I have served my time"
281:Shepherd's Bush murders
275:Shepherd's Bush murders
142:Shepherd's Bush murders
1334:Rifle Brigade soldiers
1299:English male criminals
1180:Robson, Garry (2000).
310:Trial and imprisonment
158:Wormwood Scrubs prison
821:"The history of life"
695:Renwick, Aly (1999).
476:sing the tune of the
130:Harry Maurice Roberts
1324:People from Wanstead
1294:Criminals from Essex
794:Natural Born Killers
432:In October 2014 the
355:Natural Born Killers
176:Roberts was born in
1205:Kray, Kate (1997).
1010:The Daily Telegraph
790:Kray, Kate (1999).
630:Kray, Kate (2003).
1069:. 12 November 2014
906:. 29 December 2006
742:McVicar by Himself
349:smuggling. Author
328:mandatory sentence
306:in Hertfordshire.
304:Bishop's Stortford
291:Bishop's Stortford
148:were shot dead in
63:Ronald Ernest Hall
1153:"Jake's progress"
1129:on 1 October 2007
1043:. 23 October 2014
982:timesonline.co.uk
798:. London: Blake.
613:978-1-854-71160-1
587:on 9 January 2008
416:Justice Secretary
316:life imprisonment
230:Malayan Emergency
154:Standard Vanguard
144:, in which three
127:
126:
118:Life imprisonment
1351:
1243:
1238:
1232:
1227:
1221:
1220:
1202:
1196:
1195:
1177:
1171:
1170:
1168:
1166:
1148:
1139:
1138:
1136:
1134:
1112:
1106:
1105:
1103:
1101:
1085:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1074:
1059:
1053:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1033:
1027:
1026:
1024:
1022:
1000:
994:
993:
991:
989:
973:
967:
966:
964:
962:
950:
944:
943:
941:
939:
922:
916:
915:
913:
911:
894:
888:
887:
873:
867:
866:
864:
862:
844:
838:
837:
835:
833:
816:
810:
809:
797:
787:
781:
780:
762:
756:
755:
734:
728:
727:
717:
711:
710:
692:
686:
685:
683:
681:
665:
657:
646:
645:
627:
616:
603:
597:
596:
594:
592:
570:
564:
563:
561:
559:
548:
539:
538:
528:
522:
521:
511:
458:He Kills Coppers
427:animal sanctuary
226:Mau Mau uprising
218:national service
114:Criminal penalty
104:
60:Other names
44:
40:
38:
21:
20:
16:English criminal
1359:
1358:
1354:
1353:
1352:
1350:
1349:
1348:
1249:
1248:
1247:
1246:
1239:
1235:
1228:
1224:
1217:
1203:
1199:
1192:
1178:
1174:
1164:
1162:
1149:
1142:
1132:
1130:
1122:The Independent
1113:
1109:
1099:
1097:
1086:
1082:
1072:
1070:
1061:
1060:
1056:
1046:
1044:
1035:
1034:
1030:
1020:
1018:
1017:on 9 March 2010
1001:
997:
987:
985:
974:
970:
960:
958:
951:
947:
937:
935:
924:
923:
919:
909:
907:
896:
895:
891:
874:
870:
860:
858:
845:
841:
831:
829:
817:
813:
806:
788:
784:
777:
763:
759:
752:
735:
731:
723:The Independent
718:
714:
707:
699:. Barbed Wire.
693:
689:
679:
677:
669:The Independent
658:
649:
642:
628:
619:
604:
600:
590:
588:
580:The Independent
571:
567:
557:
555:
554:. itnsource.com
550:
549:
542:
530:
529:
525:
513:
512:
503:
498:
486:
442:
440:Cultural impact
371:
312:
287:Shepherd's Bush
283:
277:
220:and joined the
180:, then part of
174:
146:police officers
134:career criminal
100:
91:Dorothy Roberts
90:
78:Criminal status
55:
45:
42:
36:
34:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1357:
1347:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1314:Male murderers
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1245:
1244:
1233:
1222:
1215:
1197:
1191:978-1859733721
1190:
1172:
1140:
1107:
1096:on 3 July 2007
1080:
1054:
1028:
995:
968:
945:
934:. 29 June 2007
917:
889:
868:
839:
811:
804:
782:
776:978-1780894379
775:
757:
750:
729:
712:
705:
687:
647:
640:
617:
598:
565:
540:
523:
500:
499:
497:
494:
493:
492:
485:
482:
441:
438:
395:Home Secretary
375:House of Lords
370:
367:
322:suspended the
311:
308:
279:Main article:
276:
273:
242:lance corporal
173:
170:
125:
124:
121:
120:
115:
111:
110:
105:
97:
96:
93:
92:
87:
83:
82:
79:
75:
74:
69:
65:
64:
61:
57:
56:
46:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1356:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1264:Living people
1262:
1260:
1257:
1256:
1254:
1242:
1237:
1231:
1226:
1218:
1216:9781857821710
1212:
1208:
1201:
1193:
1187:
1183:
1176:
1160:
1159:
1154:
1147:
1145:
1128:
1124:
1123:
1118:
1111:
1095:
1091:
1084:
1068:
1064:
1058:
1042:
1038:
1032:
1016:
1012:
1011:
1006:
999:
983:
979:
972:
956:
949:
933:
932:
927:
921:
905:
904:
899:
893:
885:
884:
879:
872:
856:
855:
850:
843:
828:
827:
822:
815:
807:
805:9781857823820
801:
796:
795:
786:
778:
772:
768:
761:
753:
751:9781903906057
747:
743:
739:
738:McVicar, John
733:
725:
724:
716:
708:
706:9780953383306
702:
698:
691:
675:
671:
670:
664:
656:
654:
652:
643:
641:9781904034476
637:
633:
626:
624:
622:
614:
610:
607:
602:
586:
582:
581:
576:
569:
553:
547:
545:
536:
535:
527:
519:
518:
510:
508:
506:
501:
491:
488:
487:
481:
479:
475:
471:
468:In the song "
466:
464:
460:
459:
453:
451:
447:
437:
435:
430:
428:
423:
421:
417:
414:, the former
413:
409:
404:
401:
396:
390:
387:
382:
380:
376:
366:
364:
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
339:closed prison
336:
331:
329:
325:
324:death penalty
321:
317:
307:
305:
300:
296:
295:Hertfordshire
292:
288:
282:
272:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
249:
247:
243:
239:
236:while in the
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
214:
212:
209:
205:
200:
198:
194:
190:
187:
183:
179:
169:
166:
161:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
139:
135:
131:
122:
119:
116:
112:
109:
106:
103:
102:Conviction(s)
98:
94:
89:Harry Roberts
88:
84:
80:
76:
73:
70:
66:
62:
58:
53:
49:
43:(age 88)
33:
29:
25:Harry Roberts
22:
19:
1236:
1225:
1206:
1200:
1181:
1175:
1163:. Retrieved
1158:The Guardian
1156:
1131:. Retrieved
1127:the original
1120:
1110:
1098:. Retrieved
1094:the original
1083:
1071:. Retrieved
1066:
1057:
1045:. Retrieved
1040:
1031:
1021:18 September
1019:. Retrieved
1015:the original
1008:
998:
986:. Retrieved
981:
971:
959:. Retrieved
948:
936:. Retrieved
929:
920:
908:. Retrieved
901:
892:
881:
871:
859:. Retrieved
852:
842:
832:18 September
830:. Retrieved
824:
814:
793:
785:
766:
760:
741:
732:
721:
715:
696:
690:
680:19 September
678:. Retrieved
667:
631:
605:
601:
591:18 September
589:. Retrieved
585:the original
578:
568:
556:. Retrieved
532:
526:
515:
478:Hare Krishna
467:
456:
454:
443:
431:
424:
405:
391:
386:parole board
383:
372:
354:
343:drug dealing
332:
313:
284:
250:
246:John McVicar
215:
201:
197:ration books
193:black market
189:public house
175:
162:
129:
128:
41:21 July 1936
18:
1259:1936 births
1073:12 November
988:28 February
961:28 February
769:. Century.
474:Chumbawamba
463:Jake Arnott
420:open prison
335:open prison
208:Gaynes Hall
1253:Categories
1047:23 October
883:The People
672:. London.
558:23 October
496:References
412:Jack Straw
400:government
363:1857823826
347:contraband
253:bookmakers
186:The George
172:Early life
68:Occupation
37:1936-07-21
886:. London.
854:The Times
726:. London.
534:The Times
517:The Times
351:Kate Kray
204:detention
86:Parent(s)
72:Carpenter
54:, England
1161:. London
1067:BBC News
1041:BBC News
984:. London
931:BBC News
903:BBC News
857:. London
826:BBC News
740:(2002).
674:Archived
484:See also
269:the rope
257:decanter
234:sergeant
178:Wanstead
138:murderer
48:Wanstead
1241:YouTube
1230:YouTube
1165:24 June
1133:24 June
1100:24 June
938:30 June
910:24 June
632:Killers
379:tapping
369:Appeals
357:(1999,
211:borstal
1213:
1207:Lifers
1188:
861:9 July
802:
773:
748:
703:
638:
615:p. 517
611:
361:
150:London
108:Murder
446:chant
261:judge
182:Essex
52:Essex
1211:ISBN
1186:ISBN
1167:2007
1135:2007
1102:2007
1075:2014
1049:2014
1023:2010
990:2009
963:2009
940:2007
912:2007
863:2010
834:2010
800:ISBN
771:ISBN
746:ISBN
701:ISBN
682:2010
636:ISBN
609:ISBN
593:2010
560:2014
359:ISBN
345:and
238:Army
228:and
136:and
31:Born
472:,"
461:by
1255::
1155:.
1143:^
1119:.
1065:.
1039:.
1007:.
980:.
928:.
900:.
880:.
851:.
823:.
666:.
650:^
620:^
577:.
543:^
504:^
293:,
263:,
50:,
39:)
1219:.
1194:.
1169:.
1137:.
1104:.
1077:.
1051:.
1025:.
992:.
965:.
942:.
914:.
865:.
836:.
808:.
779:.
754:.
709:.
684:.
644:.
595:.
562:.
299:£
35:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.