Inspired by my recent visit to Belfast’s prison tourist attraction, it set me thinking about the Victorian detectives who used to attend public leisure venues and events – often in disguise – to watch out for and arrest thieves, especially pickpockets. The ‘undercover’ officers would be assigned to race meetings, fairgrounds and circuses, often travelling there by train and, due to their extensive knowledge of the local criminal fraternity, they could spot a known offender in a crowd – or sometimes on the railway platform – quite easily.
These are three of my favourite detective anecdotes, which include chases through a monkey house, a detective in disguise, and a rather enigmatic ‘singing nymph’. Two of the cases (featuring different detectives!) are set in Belle Vue in Manchester (pictured above), which was one of my favourite days out as a child – scroll down for a photo of my sister and me at the pleasure park in 1972...
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.