Thanks to Tyne & Wear Archives we have access to an amazing glimpse of Newcastle life back in the 1930s- criminal life to be exact.
All of these mug shots come from a police identification book, originally found in a junk shop by a member of the public who then donated it to the archive.
What’s really interesting about these men is not one of them is above 5’10, with the average height of the group being around 5’4. This fact shows how much the stature of Geordie’s has changed in as little as 90 years.
From Larceny to safebreaking, here’s a look at criminals of the past.
9. Frank Kelly
Born: 1896 ; Trade: Hawker ; M.O: Larceny, Receiving, Shop & Warehouse breaking. A general all around thief. Associates with all classes of thieves. | Tyne & Wear Archives
10. Frederick Benedict Muir
Born: 1908; Trade: Labourer ; M.O: Public Housebreaking, shopbreaking, warehousebreaking. Breaks windows at rear of buildings. | Tyne & Wear Archives
11. James Boyd Potter aka Fatty Potter
Born: 1901 ; Trade: Labourer ; Marks: Long operation scar rt. side of neck ; M.O: Public-house, shop and warehouse breaking and receiving- associates with all classes of thieves. | Tyne & Wear Archives