The fact that no two people have the same fingerprints has been known for hundreds of years and they have been used to identify individuals for as almost as long. However, it was only at the beginning of the 20th century that British Police started to make use of them. Sir Edward Richard Henry, as Assistant Commissioner (Crime) of the Metropolitan Police, established Britain’s first Fingerprint Bureau, on 1st July 1901, at Scotland Yard. Its original main purpose was to prevent criminals from concealing previous convictions from the police, courts and prisons. However, fingerprints were soon also used to confirm the identity of individuals and to identify criminals from prints left at crime scenes.
A case in point were the infamous identical twins Albert Ebenezer and Ebenezer Albert Fox who were born in 1857 in Symonds Green, Hertfordshire. Despite a respectable background, the twins at age 14 turned to a life of poaching. They made sure never to go out poaching together, and often escaped conviction by providing alibis for each other. They weren’t always successful and did spend time in prison where they came to the notice of Sir Henry who used twins, including the Fox’s, to prove that an individual could be identified by his fingerprints.
The benefit of fingerprints didn’t go unnoticed by other Police Forces and Hertfordshire Chief Constable Henry Daniell issued General Order 16 of the 21st August 1903 which was entitled Fingerprints and gave the following instructions.
In accordance with Home Office circulars 63109/16 of July 1903 and Habitual Criminal Registrars memo. Copies herewith enclosed.
It is ordered that the fingerprints of all prisoners in the custody of Herts Police are to be taken on and after 1st September 1903 and filed at Divisional Offices.
When you have any idea that the prisoner is an old offender or an Habitual Criminal you will send the prints to the H.C. Registry Office, New Scotland Yard for enquiry and identification with Form No. 34. It is not necessary to obtain a Justices signature in future.
Care must be taken by the Clerks to keep the Roller and Plate free from dust and dirt, always cleaning same after being used.
Sample prints of two persons should be taken at once and sent to this Office to be examined as to correctness or defects.
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