The Scotland Yard Files

As the ingenuity of criminals has developed over time, so have the techniques for catching them. The murderer Dr Crippen's attempted getaway was foiled by the first use of radio at sea, and fingerprint evidence first secured a conviction as far back as 1902. Keith Skinner, a leading crime historian, and Alan Moss, a former Chief Superintendent, have trawled through the archives and selected twelve such fascinating 'firsts' from the history of the world-famous Scotland Yard - including the first 'wanted' picture in the press , the first successful use of identification parades, and the first conviction based on ballistics evidence. A lively narrative is supported by many previously unpublished images and documents from the Scotland Yard files at London's National Archives.