Roberto Alberto Rossi was a British-Italian gangster and former associate of the Kray twins known as the "General of Clerkenwell". He stood trial for murder in 1975 but was acquitted. A journalist linked him to 11 murders, a figure which he did not dispute.

Little Italy, London was an Italian ethnic enclave in London. Little Italy’s core historical borders are usually placed at Clerkenwell Road, Farringdon Road and Rosebery Avenue – the Saffron Hill area of Clerkenwell. Clerkenwell spans Camden Borough & Islington Borough. Saffron Hill & the Italian Church fall within the Camden side.