Freddie Foreman, Kray gang enforcer, dies aged 94
Freddie Foreman, the gangster known as "The Guv'nor" who ruled east London's criminal underworld alongside the notorious Kray Twins during the 1960s, has died aged 94. The convicted criminal passed away at a care home in west London following a short illness, marking the end of an era according to those who knew him, as he was one of the last surviving figures from that brutal period of British crime history.
Foreman was a central figure in the capital's organised crime scene, serving as an enforcer and fixer for the Kray Twins' gang. He was acquitted of murder twice at the Old Bailey but later admitted to both killings and disposing of bodies in the sea. His criminal career included involvement in the disposal of Jack 'the Hat' McVitie's body (murdered by Reggie Kray) and the £6 million Security Express cash robbery in 1983. In total, he served 16 years across 15 different prisons and was famously acquitted at the Old Bailey four times on murder charges, whilst also orchestrating the prison escape of gangster Ronnie Biggs in 1965.
- Old-guard gangster who worked with the Kray Twins in 1960s east London dies aged 94
- Acquitted of murder at Old Bailey multiple times but admitted to killings
- Served 16 years in prison across 15 different institutions
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Freddie Foreman was a prominent gangster in London's criminal underworld during the 1960s and 1970s, known primarily for his work as an enforcer for the Kray Twins. The Kray Twins were notorious brothers who controlled much of east London's organised crime, and Foreman served as a senior figure in their operation. To understand this era, it helps to know that the Kray Twins represented some of the most powerful and violent organised crime figures in post-war British history.
Foreman built a reputation for involvement in serious crimes whilst also becoming notoriously difficult to prosecute. He was acquitted of murder at the Old Bailey multiple times despite being charged with serious offences. Later in life, Foreman publicly confessed to killings he had been acquitted for, revealing details that had remained unknown for decades.
Foreman held significance as a surviving figure from the 1960s London underworld, an era that is now almost entirely historical. Few people remain alive who directly witnessed and participated in that period of organised crime. His death means the loss of one of the last people with firsthand knowledge of this chapter in British crime history.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Gangster legend and Kray Twins ‘enforcer’ Freddie Foreman dies aged 94”.