Crime 1C

• The growth of towns, like London (estimated population: 30,000) and York (estimated population: 11,000) meant there were more opportunities for crime, leading to a more centralised approach for dealing with crime.
• The Black Death hit England in 1348, and so many people died that there were fewer works available, which meant the surviving peasants could demand higher wages. The Statute of Labourers of 1351 introduced a maximum wage and made it a crime to ask for more. It also became a crime to move to a new area to look for a better paid job.
• A small number of people became questioning the practices of the Church, for example wanting the Bible translated into English: they became known as the Lollards. Laws against heresy (holding a different set of beliefs to the established religion) were introduced in 1382, 1401 and 1414.