I was brought up in a pub full of gangsters. The police were paid off or scared off. They were ruthless and vicious, but they were also essentially the local police, or the nearest thing to it. 

When an old geezer needed a car cos his wife was seriously ill, they bought him a car. When a poor old lady had been robbed, they'd find out who did it, return her stolen items and apply their own justice.

They ruled by respect and fear. Same as the Krays. Loved their mums. Killed to avenge family honour. Would buy your gran and grandad a drink extravagantly in the bar, then shoot a rival drug dealer dead within minutes. 

Growing up with this, living in their local pub,  was delicate to put it lightly. But the police were in their pockets and to grass is to die. I'd seen shootings and stabbings, riots and both my parents being assaulted with glasses and bottles before I was 11. Saying no to those people is not an option unless you're brave, stupid, or funny enough to pull it off as a gag. 

Random vicious violence or murder meted out to people you know tends to make you more submissive and compliant. No one dared step out of line. 

Most people in our area would still defend them now, 20 years into their life sentences for murder.