Gayle, I didn't have you down as the Barbara Windsor type! "They wuz real gents, wuz Ronnie and Reggie. The streets wuz safe when they wuz around."
Seriously, I can see that it may well be a contributory factor. If you read any books about the Krays, you'll see that many older East Enders say the same. As far as I'm concerned, we should lock up the thugs where they can do no harm for long periods of time, but what worries me is, will others spring up to take their place?