Finding Historic Criminal Investigation, Where A Family Ancestor Was The Victim

[BigDaddy]

Hi,

Is there anyway of finding information about a criminal investigation (in the mid-late 1930s) where an ancestor of mine was the victim, irrespective of whether charges were ever brought against any perpetrator?

I've reason to believe an ancestor was the victim of a quite unpleasant crime, but don't think they ever found anyone in relation to the offence, but don't know how to approach this. I can't post the person's name either for family reasons.

I have checked the British Newspaper Archive but wondered it there is any type of access to criminal investigations that may not have been in the newspapers.

Thanks in advance for any advice

[RJ_Paton]

Hi,

Is there anyway of finding information about a criminal investigation (in the mid-late 1930s) where an ancestor of mine was the victim, irrespective of whether charges were ever brought against any perpetrator?

If charges were brought the investigating Police Force would only retain records for a relatively short time - anything from 5 to 25 years depending on local procedures (it was 7 in my area).

If no one was ever identified technically it remains an open case but after 90 years I would doubt that the records exist.

You could contact the Police Service currently in that area to ask or the local archives in the same area.

[Ray T]

Depends upon where it happened. My bigamous grandfather’s widow took on a lodger shortly after he died. The lodger was murdered in Dcember 1945 and I found the police file at the Cheshire archives. All they were concerned about was that I had a legitimate reason for seeing them.

[RJ_Paton]

Murders are treated differently from other cases - especially if there is something unique about them e.g. Peter Manuel in Scotland

Unfortunately there is no simple answer as it very much hinged on the local procedures which often changed over time and sometimes on the whim of a Chief Constable/Government Minister.

The best course of action for the OP is to check with the local archives and/or Local Police service HQ

[Ray T]

I originally found a reference to the murdr at the Cheshire Policing Museum and they pointed me to Cheshire Archives for the file.