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Preston Park Museum houses a fascinating book of mugshot from the late 1930's.
Uncovering the past
The book offers a glimpse into crime and policing history. It features 482 photographs with detailed descriptions of the individuals and the crimes that they committed.The book of mugshots shows the evolution of forensic photography.
The origins of mugshots
Mugshots became a standard police tool in the 1850s, revolutionising criminal identification. By 1872, photographing offenders was mandatory, which created records that helped investigations.
A glimpse into criminal history
The museum's mugshot book from the North Riding Police Force (1878 to1896) features images of individuals arrested for crimes like theft and assault. One infamous case recorded in the collection is the Cook family from Middlesbrough, professional criminals arrested in 1894 for burglary of 2 homes. They stole a large amount which, adjusted to inflation in 2025 would be over £1800 worth of items burgled from 2 homes.
