Silver print, one of four pages of photographs of inmates of Wormwood Scrubs prison mounted twelve to a page c.1890. A page from an album of criminal register photographs, taken by a unknown photographer at Wormwood Scrubs prison in about 1890. The criminals hold up their hands to show any identifying features, such as tattoos or missing fingers. A mirror placed on their right shoulder captures their profile.

Silver print, one of four pages of photographs of inmates of Wormwood Scrubs prison mounted twelve to a page c.1890. A page from an album of criminal register photographs, taken by a unknown photographer at Wormwood Scrubs prison in about 1890.

The criminals hold up their hands to show any identifying features, such as tattoos or missing fingers. A mirror placed on their right shoulder captures their profile. The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been in evidence as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crimes Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.