Crooks

Last night I attended the launch of the book Crooks Like Us by Sydney author Peter Doyle at Sydney's Justice and Police Museum. The book launch coincides with the exhibition of 1920s police "special photographs" many of which were taken in and around Darlinghurst and Surry Hills, Sydney.

Crooks Like Us features black and white photographs taken by Sydney police during the 1920s of "individuals they thought were, or were likely to become, professional criminals". The images were unearthed from the museum’s Forensic Photography Archive by author Doyle while he undertook research at the archive.

The images are haunting, touching and very intriguing and are accompanied by the stories of the photographs subjects carefully researched by Doyle. The book which was published by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales is a follow up to Doyle's City of Shadows: Sydney police photographs 1912-1948 which also features dark yet fascinating police photographs of Sydney crime scenes, criminals and their victims.

Check out the exhibition on until 7 March 2010 at the Museum found on corner of Albert and Phillip Streets, Circular Quay, Sydney. The book can be bought at all good book sellers and at the museum.

Quotes and images from: http://www.hht.net.au/whats_on/exhibitions/exhibitions/crooks