Crime and Punishment / 1900-present
Crime and Punishment: Modern Police Technology
New technology helped police move faster, record more and catch criminals more accurately.
What To Remember
- Transport and communication technology made police faster and more mobile.
- Forensic science, fingerprints, DNA and databases made detection more accurate.
- CCTV and ANPR show the modern move towards surveillance and national information sharing.
From the street to the database
In 1901, the Metropolitan Police Fingerprint Branch was set up at Scotland Yard.
Fingerprints gave police a scientific way to connect suspects to crime scenes, and improved microscopes helped identify small traces of blood and other evidence.
From 1995, the National DNA Database allowed profiles from suspects and crime scenes to be matched across the country.
Evidence and speed
Bicycles were introduced in 1909, cars became common in the 1930s, and helicopters later helped track suspects from the air.
Two-way radios in police cars and the 999 emergency number, both associated with the 1930s, improved response times.
The Police National Computer from 1974 gave officers access to national information instead of relying only on local records.
Surveillance
CCTV can deter crime and provide evidence for prosecution.
ANPR checks vehicle number plates against police lists, helping officers find stolen cars, uninsured vehicles or suspects on the move.
The key change is that modern policing became more data-driven and connected across forces.
Revision Prompt
Which modern police technology had the biggest impact?