Modern Crime 1900-

• Misuse of drugs act 1971

  Sexual offences Act 1967 - decriminalised homosexuality

  The Abortion Act -1967

  The fraud squad 1946

  Special branch 1883

  Drugs unit and national crime 1971

  Derek Bentley's execution 1953

  1922 Infanticide

  1908 Children's act

  1998 End of death penalty for any crime

  1957 Homicide act of diminished responsibility

  1903 Borstal. Abolished 1983

  MILITARY SERVICE ACT 1916
• Reasons for abolishing death penalty

  • Prisons were very secure , rehab was new attitude
  • Human right declaration- Execution opposed this
  • Liberal attitudes
  • Human science, age of criminal responsibility of 10
  • Derek and Ruth
• Derek Bentley had the mind of a 10 year old. Friends with Christopher craig who is 16.

  Chris shot PC Miles

  Both guilty of murder, Chris too young for death penalty

  Over 5000 protestors and 200 MP sign petition to stop execution

  British Gov pardoned him 40 years later
• Judge Goddard wanted to make an example of Derek. He was also very old fashioned
• Ruth Ellis was the last woman hanged in Britain. She killed her lover David Blakely. Had been married twice and had two children.