Problem crimes

• smuggling

  • what? the 17th century saw the gov introduce import duties on a range of goods. Smugglers brought goods into a country without paying these duties and could sell them at a cheaper price.
  • led to? authorities found it hard to tackle this crime AS it was a social crime, people wanted cheaper goods & didnt see the wrong in it. Supply people with tea, brandy etc.
  • RESULT: local communities would help to hide smugglers rather than report them. In the 1780s, import duties were lowered, prices of legally traded goods=more competitive w/ smugglers, so it became less of a problem crime
• poaching

  • what? became a widespread crime in the 18th century, like smuggling, there were a rise in gangs operating on a much larger scale
  • led to? the 1723 Black Act meant poaching was a capital offence & to deal with these gangs.
  • result: such anti poaching were resented as only landowners with land worth over £100 a year culd hunt freely. Like smuggling, it was a social crime which punished the poor in favour of protecting the wealthy. The black act was repealed in 1823 which meant poaching was still illegal but not punishable by death anymore
• HIGHWAY ROBBERY

  • what? involved threatening or attacking travelers and forcing them to hand over goods. existed in the M.A but became more common in the 1800s
  • WHY? increasing trade meant greater need to move goods around as there were few banks. travelers carried large sums of money making them targets of H.R. Also, many isolated roads where robberies could happen. Lastly, roads improved in the 18th century, more people travelled
  • RESULT?the growth of banking system meant people carried less money on them which created less targets.
• FACTORS

  • poverty and wealth- poverty was the main cause of crimes like smuggling & poaching
  • A.I.S: people saw smuggling & poaching like a social crime
  • GOV: changes to law made crimes like smuggling & poaching more widespread, harsher punishments to deter criminals
  • Travel/town: highway robbery occured due to growth of towns and increased travel.