Catalogue description Director of Public Prosecutions: Registers of Cases

Registers of applications for advice on action and of other communications addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions by chief constables, town clerks and others, constituting a record of cases referred. There are also separate registers of miscellaneous papers, 1899 to 1946, and of criminal appeals, 1908 to 1933.

Each volume of the register of applications has an index of applicants, accused and offences e.g. abortion, arson, bigamy, communism, forgery, indecent behaviour, incest, infanticide, murder, perjury and others. Action was frequently not taken: references are given to the relevant court if action was taken. These registers can therefore act as a useful guide to prevailing attitudes to different types of crime.