Cops and Robbers in 1965 England was still a kind of Ealing comedy: crimes rarely involved firearms. The denizens of F - wing were losers in a game they had been playing against the cops. In queues for exercise, the constant questions were 'What you in for, mate?', followed by 'What you reckon you'll get?' When Freddie and I responded with 'Suspicion of drug possession' and 'We're innocent, we'll get off' they would burst into laughter, offering: 'Listen, mate, they wouldn't have you in here if they had any intention of letting you off. You're living in dreamland, you are.'
This quote vividly captures a nostalgic and somewhat romanticized view of crime and justice in 1965 England. It highlights how criminal activity at the time was often low-tech and seemed almost innocent in comparison to modern notions of crime involving firearms and organized violence. The depiction of F-wing inmates engaging in casual conversations about their charges underscores the normalization and camaraderie within the prison environment, where the perception of innocence and guilt was often blurred by humor and shared experiences. The dialogues between the inmates reveal a resigned attitude toward the legal process—an understanding that as long as the system perceives innocence or guilt, the outcome can be almost arbitrary. The remark about living in a dreamland reinforces the cynical perspective that legal justice was more about perception than truth, emphasizing the systemic nature of the penal reality of that time. The setting also offers a glimpse into the societal attitudes during the 1960s, portraying a time when crime was less sensationalized and more associated with everyday life and social class distinctions. The phrase conjures a sense of innocence, naïveté, but also a deep-seated frustration with authority that resonates across generations. Overall, the quote provides a reflective snapshot of a bygone era, combining humor with critique to portray a society grappling with crime, justice, and social expectation.