George Davis (robber)

George Davis (born 1941) is a British armed robber. He became a cause célèbre in the 1970s after being convicted of robbing the London Electricity Board in Ilford, Essex, in April 1974.

Davis maintained his innocence throughout his trial and subsequent imprisonment. His supporters argued that he was wrongly convicted and organized a high-profile campaign for his release. The "George Davis is Innocent OK" campaign gained significant public attention, featuring slogans graffitied in prominent locations, including railway bridges and walls across London and beyond.

The campaign, while highlighting alleged inconsistencies in the police investigation and witness testimony, also employed disruptive tactics. In August 1975, a cricket pitch at Headingley Cricket Ground was dug up and vandalized with the slogan in protest against Davis's imprisonment. The action was a major news event and brought further attention to the case.

In May 1976, Home Secretary Roy Jenkins released Davis from prison after serving approximately two years of his 20-year sentence. Jenkins cited exceptional circumstances, including the impact of the continuing campaign and the divisions it was causing within the community.

Following his release, Davis initially maintained his innocence but later admitted to his involvement in the robbery. In 1986, he was convicted of another robbery and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In 2011, he was convicted of conspiracy to blackmail and sentenced to five years.

The George Davis case remains a significant example of the power of public opinion and the controversies surrounding criminal justice in the United Kingdom. It raised questions about the reliability of eyewitness testimony, the fairness of police investigations, and the influence of political pressure on legal decisions.