Constable Arthur Cross was a keen amateur photographer appointed to the post of official city of London police photographer in July 1939. His first task following the declaration of war was to photograph every member of the City of London Police and, once the war actually began to affect London he then moved on to document war damage in the city. Given the scale of the damage, constable Fred Tibbs, another amateur photographer was appointed to join him. Tibbs is reported to have lived on Bishopsgate which meant he could be on the scene immediately after the All Clear signal was given following a bomb attack.