Introduction

• Crime in Medieval England c1000-1500:

  • most crime was petty theft
  • few cases of violent crimes
  • most serious - those that threatened the king (treason)
• Law Enforcement in Medieval England c1000-1500:

  • no police force
  • relied on local community
  • hue and cry
  • tithings - groups of ten men who were all responsible for each other
  • parish constable
  • sheriff or coroners for major crimes
• Punishment in Medieval England c1000-1500:

  • few offences carry death penalty
  • fines common (Wergild)
  • corporal punishment frequent
  • prisons held prisoners before trial
• Crimes in Early Modern England c1500-1700:

  • most crime was petty theft
  • violent crimes uncommon
  • protests and rebellions (due to religious changes)
  • heresy
  • treason
  • witchcraft - criminal offence
  • vagabondage
• Law Enforcement in Early Modern England c1500-1700:

  • no police force
  • hue and cry
  • thief takers
• Punishment in Early Modern England c1500-1700:

  • capital punishment
  • corporal punishment
• Crime c1700-1900:

  • rise in crime (1750-1850)
  • population increase (11 million 1750 to 42 million 1900)
  • 1851 - majority lived in urban areas
  • petty theft most common
  • highway robbery
  • smuggling
• Law Enforcement c1700-1900:

  • 1829 - Metropolitan police set up
• Punishment c1700-1900:

  • reform
  • prisons
  • hard labour in prisons
• Crimes in Modern Britain c1900-present:

  • increase in crime (1950s-1995)
  • racism
  • drug crimes
  • violent crimes etc.
• Law Enforcement in Modern Britain c1900-present:

  • fingerprinting
  • radios
  • cars
  • specialist units
• Punishment in Modern Britain c1900-present:

  • fines
  • prisons
  • electronic tagging
• The death penalty was abolished in 1965.
• The three types of crime are:

  • crimes against the person
  • crimes against property
  • crimes against authority
• The six types of punishment are:

  • protection - society must be protected
  • retribution - 'an eye for an eye'
  • reformation - change
  • deterrence - put off
  • reparation - make good the damage and hurt
  • vindication - people must see laws are upheld and respected
• The five factors that affect change are:

  • individuals - introduce new ideas
  • technology - new discoveries and inventions
  • society - fear of crime
  • government - affects laws about crime
  • church - religious ideas influence beliefs