Law enforcement

• What was Collective Responsibility?

  Being responsible for everyone

  If someone broke law everyone in the village to take action
• King's Shire Reeve

  A local Offical brang criminals to justice
• Tithings?

  Each Hundred is divided into ten 'tithings'

  All men over 12 responsible for the behavior of others

  One man from each hundred expected to meet regularly at Kings Shire Reeve
• Hue and Cry?

  Anyone who witnessed or was a victim would raise Hue and Cry and everyone who heard was expected to help catch criminal

  Example of Community
• What types of Courts where there

  Shire courts serious cases

  Church courts moral crimes

  Hundred courts petty crimes
• Oaths?

  Anglo-Saxons depended on religion if lied sent to hell used as a deterrent and to make sure its truthful

  If guilt not decided handed over to church for trial by ordeal
• Trial by ordeal

  Cases you can't prove guilt

  Seen as a way putting in Gods hand
• Trial by Cold water?

  Sunk - Not guilty

  Floated - Guilty
• Trial by Consecrated Bread?

  Only for Priests

  If they choked they were guilty
• Trial by hot water/hot iron?

  Scald first

  If healed innocent

  If not guilty

  Thought it was Gods Plan
• Trial by combat

  Fought until one was killed or surrendered determines guilt
• Foresters


  Hired men to enforce forest laws and catch poachers
• Parish Constables?

  Unpaid Law enforcement was introduced 13th/14th century

  Gave them Status

  Often lead Hue and Cry
• Coroners

  James 1 introduced Coroners to deal with suspicious deaths around 1200

  Decided cause of death
• Role of Sheriff?

  Track down criminals if Hue and Cry didn't work
• Justices of peace

  Initially, Knights were appointed to keep the peace

  Expanded in all areas 1327

  Met 4 times a year to enforce the law and judge duties

  Showed Government and Church worked together