Track down the Victorian villains in your family tree

Over 2 million criminal records which date all the way back to 1770 are being published online for the first time. They include details of Victorian serial killers and habitual drunks banned from pubs. It means people will get the chance to trace any villains they may have in their family tree.

Family website findmypast.co.uk [registration required] holds records from 1770 to 1934 and includes mugshots, court documents, appeal letters and prison ship registers.

Killers included in the collection include Amelia Dyer who is believed to have murdered 400 babies between 1880 and 1896.