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One of Britain's most famous police officer Len “Nipper” Read who put the Kray twins away has died this morning.

He was 95-years-old.

Read was the Detective Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police who is widely credited for arresting Ronnie and Reggie Kray.

In 1967 he was in charge of Scotland Yard's murder squad who took on and broke up the twins' gangland empire.

Reed was portrayed by Dr Who actor Christopher Eccleston in the 2015 film Legends.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Heritage Centre said: "We are sad to announce that Leonard 'Nipper' Read QPM died this morning aged 95.

(Image: Getty Images)

"A Met legend, he is best known for his part in bringing the Kray Twins to justice and his autobiographies hold places of honour in our collections."

The Kray twins were Britain's most feared gangsters throught the 1960s, ruling their crime empire from London's East End.

But as well as their murderous reign of terror, the brothers became celebrities in their own right.

They owned a string of nightclubs and counted some of the world's biggest stars among their friends.

Judy Garland, Diana Dors and Barbara Windsor were all regulars at some of their West End night spots and the twins were regularly photographed with their famous guests.

(Image: Getty)

Behind the glamorous veneer of their nightclubs, Ronnie and Reggie were two of the most feared men in Britain - and those who crossed them were dealt with harshly.

In 1966 the brothers shot and killed George Cornell, a member of a rival gang, at the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel.

The following year, while still running the respectable side of their business, the twins also killed Jack 'the Hat' McVitie.

Finally, their reign of terror came to an end when they were arrested in 1968 by Leonard 'Nipper' Read and his team of detectives.

Ronnie and Reggie were both convicted of murder and jailed for life.

Ronnie as an inmate at Broadmoor Hospital until he died from a heart attack on March 17, 1995.

Reggie was released from prison eight weeks before his death from bladder cancer in 2000 on compassionate grounds.