20th / 21st century

• The definitions of crime changed over the 20th century. This can be attributed to factors such as new technology and the changing situation in society.
• • The 20th century witnessed two World Wars (1914-1918 and 1939-1945) which had an impact on society, population and the way people lived their lives.
• • By the end of the 20th century standards of living were better than they were in the early 1900s. People were living in better houses, eating better food and the Welfare State provided protection for the most vulnerable members of society.
• • People were generally happier to report crimes in the 20th century.
  • The Police Force had become more approachable
  • This led to violent crimes being reported more readily.
  • The Police began to record crime consistently
  • This meant that crime statistics appeared to be increasing.
• • The Government introduced a new law in 2007 covering ‘hate crimes’, where victims are targeted because of their race, sexual orientation, religion or because of a disability.
• • Terrorism became a bigger threat in the twentieth century. The IRA (Irish Republican Army) carried out a number of bombings in Britain during the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
  • Religious extremist groups have also carried out suicide bombings in London which have resulted in many casualties.
• • Conscientious Objection became a new crime of the period.
  • This was when people refused to take part in war for moral reasons.
  • They were often accused of cowardice and in many cases had to attend a tribunal where they were punished.
• The creation of the Police National Computer in 1974 was a significant turning point in the history of policing. This provided a central database for all information like fingerprints, vehicle registration, and missing persons. This meant that police departments from around the country could share information easily, and patterns in crimes across regions and time could be tracked.