Free access to criminal records

[nanny jan]

Free access to the criminal records on Ancestry.co.uk until the end of January.   Only just found this!

[Ceeoh]

Hi nanny jan

I have been trying to find the access to the criminal records on Ancestry.co.uk but cannot find any reference to criminal records.  Please can you tell me where should I have been looking.

Thanks Ceeoh

[Alan b]

It is these ones I think:

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1590

[nanny jan]

That's the one!  Not much time left to look.

[Ceeoh]

Many thanks, gives me time to have a quick look.

Ceeoh

[LizzieW]

I have a sub so can still access the records, but how does anyone know whether someone listed is their ancestor or not?  Unless the crime is very serious like murder, or the ancestor's name is very unusual.

Lizzie

[Ceeoh]

I don't know if any of my family ever had a criminal record, however, I suppose one looks for familiar names then researches them afterwards.  It was very interesting to read through.  I only looked at 1861 as I have a missing g-grandmother at that time.  They were hard times when one thinks of how locked up criminals (real ones - not petty larceny) are treated today.  They have a better life than a lot of people.

Ceeoh

[Bridgebabe]

I have found a possible ancestor in 1830 and 1833 records for Yorkshire West Riding. There were 2 men of this name in the local area (from reading the 1841 census), and I should like to find out if this man is 'mine'.  Is there any way to access more information eg would an address be given anywhere?  I still live in the local area so could follow up with a visit to archived info  Thanks

[davidft]

Is there any way to access more information eg would an address be given anywhere?  I still live in the local area so could follow up with a visit to archived info  Thanks

Yes it is possible that there is further information.

You need to find out where the papers are kept. As its a West Yorkshire case the papers may well be at the Archives in Leeds - they have an online catalogue so you could search that to see if they are held there.

If the archives have the papers there could well be more details than the records on ancestry show - which are only a summary, and they may give enough information to identify if its the person you are after. eg in a case I had the papers said where the felon lived, his trade and also recorded what his wife said when the local policeman turned up to arrest him !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!