LOOKBACK


KEY CASES THAT SHAPED 150 YEARS OF POLICE CRIME PHOTOGRAPHY


1888 – THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS Police use photography to document Jack the Ripper’s crime scenes. The images are crude by modern standards, but they mark the first systematic attempt to preserve a major scene visually.


1924 – THE CRUMBLES MURDER (EMILY KAYE) Scene photographs taken under the direction of Sir Bernard Spilsbury help the court understand the layout and sequence of events. It becomes a landmark moment for photographic evidence in murder trials.


1953 – 10 RILLINGTON PLACE Detailed interior photographs of John Christie’s flat reveal concealed bodies


and key forensic details. The case demonstrates how photography can corroborate pathology and expose offender behaviour.


1999 – SOHO NAIL BOMBING Digital photography allows rapid scene mapping and debris analysis. Images are shared across investigative teams within hours, signalling a new era of speed and coordination.


2017 – MANCHESTER ARENA ATTACK


High resolution digital imaging and 3D laser scanning reconstruct the blast zone with unprecedented accuracy. The technology supports both the criminal investigation and the public inquiry.


seen outside the courtroom. Today, policing operates in a world of instant communication, social media, and heightened public scrutiny. Crime scene images, if mishandled, can leak, circulate, or be misinterpreted. Forces must balance investigative necessity with data protection, victim dignity, and reputational risk. The ethical considerations surrounding image capture, storage, and disclosure are far more complex than anything early photographers faced. Looking back across 150 years, the evolution of crime photography mirrors the evolution of policing itself. It has moved from local craft to national standard, from individual judgement to structured methodology, and from analogue uncertainty to digital precision. The Victorian detective with a tripod and a glass plate would barely recognise the modern CSI equipped with a laser scanner and a drone, yet both share the same purpose. They aim to capture the truth of a scene in a way that serves justice. Every major case, from Whitechapel to Rillington Place, from Soho to Manchester, has pushed the discipline forward and shaped the techniques that define modern forensic imaging.


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26 | POLICE | FEBRUARY | 2026


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