Two elderly shopkeepers bludgeoned to death, the only evidence – a smudged thumbprint inside a cashbox. A Quaker poisons his mistress in Slough and, confident he will evade justice, arrives at Paddington station unaware modern technology had alerted police who lay in wait. Great Britain has led the world in crime-detection methods and the forensic sciences; this volume examines real criminal cases that have tested the legality and admissibility of these crime-fighting methods as they pass through the British legal system.

Together with many other examples encompassing police corruption, ballistics, entomology and riot, to name but a few, this volume demonstrates how crime has influenced present-day policing methods, Britain’s criminal justice system and ultimately the detection and conviction of some of this country’s most infamous men and women.

•  Features an eclectic range of cases - first ID parade, first serial killer, first riot, first crime solved by Crimestoppers and more
• The author spent thirty years as a detective in London, including anti-terrorism work
• The perfect follow-up to the author's successful 'Death Diary' book
• Ideal for enthusiasts of criminal, legal or social history