A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1901. The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about William McCarthy from Halifax, who had a string of convictions for burglary.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1901.

The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about William McCarthy from Halifax, who had a string of convictions for burglary.

The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been suggested as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crime Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1903. The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Arthur Thompson from Leeds, aged twenty-three, who had two convictions for petty theft.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1903.

The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Arthur Thompson from Leeds, aged twenty-three, who had two convictions for petty theft.

The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been suggested as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crime Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1903. The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Thomas Davidson, aged sixty-two of no fixed abode, who had a string of convictions for burglary, larceny and petty theft.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1903.

The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Thomas Davidson, aged sixty-two of no fixed abode, who had a string of convictions for burglary, larceny and petty theft.

The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been suggested as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crime Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1901. The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Thomas Blessington, a sixteen-year-old from Bradford who was arrested for shopbreaking.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1901.

The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Thomas Blessington, a sixteen-year-old from Bradford who was arrested for shopbreaking.

The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been suggested as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crime Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1903. The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Samuel Wilson, a cattle drover from Ovenden who was convicted of stealing a silver watch.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1903.

The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Samuel Wilson, a cattle drover from Ovenden who was convicted of stealing a silver watch.

The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been suggested as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crime Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1906. The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Mary Ann Kennedy, a partially blind prostitute with a string of convictions for theft, robbery with violence and receiving stolen goods.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1906.

The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Mary Ann Kennedy, a partially blind prostitute with a string of convictions for theft, robbery with violence and receiving stolen goods.

The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been suggested as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crime Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1898. The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Samuel Lund, alias Glover, from Keighley who had a string of convictions for petty theft.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1898.

The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Samuel Lund, alias Glover, from Keighley who had a string of convictions for petty theft.

The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been suggested as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crime Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1901. The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Albert Jackson, alias Albert Howarth, who had a string of convictions for stealing scrap metal.

A page from a criminal record ledger compiled by the West Yorkshire police in 1901.

The ledger contains portraits, personal details and criminal records of convicted criminals. This page is about Albert Jackson, alias Albert Howarth, who had a string of convictions for stealing scrap metal.

The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been suggested as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crime Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.