Cover Image: The Brighton Police Scandal

The Brighton Police Scandal

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

The book gives thorough explanations and facts upon facts with details on top of details. I didn't have any advance knowledge on the Brighton Scandal. While I enjoy true crime, this was too dry and mundane.

The author does include the trials, closing arguments, sentencing and follows the lives of key people including their date of death and circumstances. I really appreciated that effort. As disinterested as I was, I would have Googled a few people.

In addition, there are pictures at the end of the book, and I really appreciated those. I read on my Paperwhite, and images were good.

Thank you NetGalley as well as Pen and Sword for granting my wish.

Was this review helpful?

A thoroughly researched account of a dreadful episode in police history.

A chief constable, a detective inspector and a detective sergeant were all tried for corruption. Not for a single instance of corruption but corruption over several years.

It's another brilliant book from Dick Kirby you will not be dissapointed highly recommend

Was this review helpful?

I picked this because it was a true story, and I didn’t know anything about the Brighton Scandal. This was brilliant, well written, informative, and so interesting.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The Brighton Police Scandal is the latest true crime book from the consistently excellent Dick Kirby.
It was quite easy for Police in 1950's Brighton to find serious criminals, too often a quick glance in the nearest mirror would do the job. From taking bribes that let notorious dens of iniquity ignore licencing laws, and give free rein to criminals fencing stolen goods, aiding and abetting burglars and thieves to dropping charges for money and much more the situation the rot went as high as the Chief Constable.

The situation was so bad that Scotland Yard's Flying Squad, more usually investigating London's most notorious Underworld villains than a provincial Police force were called in.
Even during the eventual trial events carried on more in the manner of the 1960's Palermo Mafia trials than a trial in an English seaside town,with witness intimidation ,perjury and an arson attack trying to "influence" the outcome.

As ever with one of Dick Kirby's books events are meticulously detailed and the full extent of the blatant corruption that had become normal amongst the elite of the Brighton Police is quite mind-blowing.

Another great read from Dick Kirby

Was this review helpful?

The Brighton Police Scandal was something I wasn’t aware of despite the size and complexity of the fraud, deceit and law breaking that was undertaken and in this well researched book the author, Dick Kirby, unravels and presents what happened and how the perpetrators were brought to justice.

This is a very interesting read and is recommended

Was this review helpful?

I LOVE true crime, and so this was an instant hit for me! I had not yet heard of the Brighton Police Scandal, but loved every second of it! I would recommend to all crime fans!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book.
I wasn't aware of the scandal before I read it, and it was interesting to learn about the history of Policing, and how getting a promotion didn't always mean you were suitable for the role.
It was interesting to read about how the events unfolded, and how easy it was for the corrupt officers for so long.
This wiĺl be a great read for anyone interested in the murky world of Police corruption, and how the scandal changed the way Chief Constables and higher ups were promoted.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very different kind of book than what I normally read. Dick Kirby writes an interesting book about crooks, police corruption and how the public really have no idea of what really goes on in the force. There were several brave cops who ended up taking down a dirty criminal and his gang, through hard work, frustration and patience that they would eventually lead them to bringing him down. Must have been really tough for these police, especially knowing there was so much corruption in their own ranks. In many ways an eye opener of a book and one that I will remember for a long time, raw and at times hard to understand that what was happening was real life. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the way policing and crime coincide. thank you to Netgalley the author and publisher for the opportunity to see this side of life.

Was this review helpful?