Crime and Punishment

• What was the main cause of crime in the Middle Ages?

  Poverty
• What were the 4 main causes of poverty that lead to crime in the Middle Ages?

  Made worse by famine e.g. The Great Famine of 1315

  
  

  • Disease created poverty and a demand for higher wages as people had to do the work to replace the high death rate e.g. Black Death 1340s

  
  

  • High taxation led to rebellion such as the poll tax which led to the Peasants Revolt 1381

  
  

  • Warfare contributed to poverty as ordinary men fought, families lost their providers and taxes were high to pay for wars e.g. Wars of the Roses.

  
  

  • Poverty led to theft, rebellion but also there was a lot of violent crime linked to access to dangerous weapons and farming tools.

  20% of crimes were linked to deathe.g manslaughter/ murder.
• What was the main cause of crime in the early modern era?

  Poverty
• What were the 4 main causes of poverty that lead to crime in the early modern era?

  • Population doubled which led to demand for food, housing, work • Rising inflation

  • Bad harvests

  • Sheep farming

  • Many people left their homes to look for work.

  • Vagrancy therefore increased - wandering beggars.
• What was another cause of crime in the early modern era?

  • Another cause of crime was changes in religion in this era.

  • Rare for people to be accused of this up until Henry VIII made changes - he often linked it to treason.
• What were the causes of crime in the 17th and 19th centuries, industrial era?

  Poverty continued to be a cause

  • Other causes included:

  • Population increase esp in towns and cities = led to demand for jobs, houses etc.

  • Urbanisation - poor living and working conditions led to protests.

  • Changes in trade - led to highway robbery • Government taxes on items - led to smuggling
• What were the causes of crime in the 20/21st centuries?

  Mass production of the car led to a variety of car related crimes

  
  

  • The rise of the computer and internet led to rise in computer related crimes - this can also be linked to the rise in people having mobile phones in the 21st century

  
  

  • Increase in violence to achieve political objectives e.g. terrorism in Northern Ireland.

  
  

  • Availability of alcohol and drugs led to increased violence at football matches in the 1970s and hooliganism.

  
  

  • Drug addiction is a key cause of crime in this era - linked to dependency and gangs.

  
  

  • Rise in juvenile gang culture esp in London caused by poverty and breakdown of traditional families
• What were common crimes described as in the Middle Ages + what did this include?

  • Common crimes defined as "disturbing the king's peace"

  • Treason, revolt, sheltering criminals, blasphemy, heresy.
• What crimes were particular to the Middle Ages?

  • Forest Laws - hunting, cutting down trees in the kings forest as it was his property

  
  

  • Scolding - use of offensive language in public

  
  

  • Treason which included defying the authority of the head of the family

  
  

  • Outlaw gangs - criminals on the run • Rebellion - Peasants Revolt 1381 or Cornish Rebellion 1497
• What were common crimes in the early modern era, 16th /17th centuries?

  Increase in vagrants - vagabonds used tricks to gain money from people

  • Estimated 10,000 vagabonds in Elizabethan England.

  • Heresy due to religious changes known as the Reformation e.g. Mary 1 burned over 280 protestants.

  • Treason

  • Henry VIII passed specific laws related to his changes in the Chrurch e.g. said or wrote things against the king, his wife or heirs or displayed support for the Pope.
• What were common crimes in the industrial era 17th/19th centuries?

  Smuggling

  Highway robbery

  Footpads

  Urban crime-theft

  Protest crime
• What was smuggling in the industrial era + what caused smuggling + why did it decline?

  gangs of 50-100 used. • Each had a specific task e.g. the venture was the investor

  • Gangs were armed usually by a batsman who protected.

  • Caused by increase in taxes on goods called customs duties and lack of patrols on the coast.

  • Declined when gov reduced duties and increased patrols.
• What was highway robbery in the industrial era + what caused it?

  linked to increased trade and secluded areas of road outside London.

  • More travellers carrying goods and money
• What were footpads in the industrial era + what lead to their decline?

  highwaymen on foot who attacked pedestrians.

  
  

  • Armed and dangerous BUT glamourised by newspapers e.g. Dick Turpin.

  
  

  • Declined due to busier roads, horse patrols outside London, banknotes could be traced.
• What are two examples of theft that were common in the industrial period?

  • Thimble screwers: stole pocket watches

  • Drag sneaks: stole goods/luggage from carts
• Give two examples of protest crime in the industrialisation period + what was each about + what did they do?

  Luddites 1813-New machinery was introduced into textile mills, replacing the weavers jobs. So they smashed the factory machines in protest.

  
  

  Rebecca riots 1839-farmers disguised themselves as women and attacked tollgates. They were protesting about the high tolls and poverty. They had suffered some poor harvests, and then the price of livestock fell, decreasing their earnings.
• Why did statistics show crime had increased in the modern era 20/21st century?

  Statistics show crime has increased but may be due to better reporting and recording of crime.
• What crimes were common in the modern era 20/21st century?

  Car crime

  Cyber crime

  Terrorism

  Hooliganism

  Drug crimes

  Gun and knife crime
• Why was there car crime in the modern era + give examples?

  • Car crime - increase in cars = new laws

  • Dangerous driving, car theft, not wearing a seatbelt, drink driving
• Give examples of cyber crime in the modern era 20/21st centuries?


  Cyber crime - hacking, cyberbullying, phishing scams, identity theft

  • Phishing attacks cost victims over £170 million in 2015.
• What is terrorism in the modern era 20/21st centuries + give examples?

  Terrorism - range of methods to push their political demands

  • Hijackings, assassination, hostages, bombings and suicide attacks.

  • 7/7 attacks in 2005 London

  • IRA attacks in 1980s

  • 2017 Westminster Bridge attacks killed 5 people.
• What is hooliganism in the 20/21st centuries + give an example?

  Hooliganism - linked with gangs • Football in 1970s and 80s a key problem

  • 1985: British and Italian fans fought causing a wall to collapse and 38 killed.
• What is drug crime in the 20/21st centuries?

  • Drug crimes: linked to gangs and poverty
• What is gun and knife crime in the 20/21st centuries?

  Gun and knife crime: linked to juvenile gangs in urban areas

  • Linked to drugs & turf wars
• How was law and order mainly maintained in the Middle Ages?

  • Community and family responsibility • Adult men grouped in tithings - if 1 broke the law the others had to bring him to court • Hue and cry - anyone who heard it was expted to help catch the criminal.

  • Sheriff could raise an armed posse to track the criminal down.
• Once a criminal was caught in the Middle Ages what system did they follow + what was each court for?

  The court system which consisted of 3 courts

  
  

  Manor courts - judge petty crime in the local area each manor had its own local laws e.g. regarding land disputes.

  
  

  • Church courts - for churchmen who had committed a crime e.g. adultery or drunkeness and more lenient. Local bishop decided each case and never issued the death sentence.

  
  

  • Royal courts - heard the most serious cases. Royal judges visited each county 2-3 times a year to try cases. These were called assizes and lasted until 1971!
• How was law and order maintained in the early modern era 16/17th centuries?

  • JP - 30-60 in each county who oversaw law and order.

  
  

  • Incl: organizing the constables and watchmen], administer Poor Law, punish offenders.

  
  

  • Parish constable and night watchman - keep law and order, challenge strangers, carried a bell and lamp.

  
  

  • 1660s - Charles II introduced patrols called Charleys. Low pay & but were 1st paid lawmen
• Why did the 17/19th centuries industrial era need a better system of law enforcement?

  Due to New Overcrowded industrial towns and cities
• What was the opposition to the police force in the industrial period?

  Felt it would restrict freedoms, lead to gov interference and raise in taxes
• What were the bow street runners in the industrial period?

  Fielding Bros created Bow Street Runners - part time, paid constables who worked for Bow St Magistrates Court.

  • Bow St Runners showed the idea of preventative policing by attempting to stop crime
• When was the met police established in the industrial period + what developments were made to the police force in 1835 and 1839?


  • Met Police established in 1829 • Extended in 1835 to larger towns in England.

  • Rural Police Act 1839 established police forces in the countryside.

  • JPs were replaced by police.
• What was the role of police in the modern era 20/21st century?


  • Role of police in this era was to maintain public order and prevent crime.
• How did methods and resources for police change a lot in the modern era 20/21st centuries?

  • 1900 - police training introduced • 1919 - first female police officers appointed

  • 1973 - female officers could become detectives

  • 1982 - Neighbourhood watch schemes set up -return to community policing. • 2000 - 200 police forces reduced to 43 for better coordination of resources. • Forensic science - helped to catch criminals.

  • 1995: National Fingerprinting

  Identification system established AND DNA database.

  • Scene of crime officers now attend crime scenes to collect evidence and carry out tests on hair, skin, blood etc.
• How did the Middle Ages attempt to combat crime?

  • Tithings - groups of 10 who were then grouped into 100s. Responsible for policing in their area

  • England was divided into shires and the shire reeve (sheriff) was responsible for public order - could raise a posse if needed.

  • Other officials such as the JP, constables and watchmen took over these jobs.
• What was the role of the JPs and watchmen in the early modern period 16/17th centuries + uniform + weapon + why become less effective + pay?

  • JP was the most important in the 16th-18thC

  • Chosen from local landowners

  • Role increased and provided a vital service in both policing and punishing.

  • Ensured laws were enforced.

  • JP appointed the Parish Constable and Watchman - from local traders/farmers

  • They were meant to deter thieves, strangers, beggars.

  • No uniform and no weapon

  • As towns grew they all became less effective at carrying out their roles.

  • Acted as unofficial policemen in towns and cities

  No fixed salary

  • Captured criminals and claimed the reward.

  • Or charged a fee for the return of stolen goods.
• What did thief takers do in the industrial era 17th/19th centuries + who was thief taker general?

  Jonathan Wild was "Thief taker General" but built a crime network of planned thefts and burglaries to profit from the return of "stolen" goods.

  • This was criticism of other thief takers who were often corrupt.
• How was the bow street runners set up in the industrial era?

  • Henry Fielding was appointed magistrate (judge) of Bow St Court.

  • He appointed 6 paid, trained officers to combat crime in the area.

  • His brother, John continued the work of these "runners" who pursued criminals as well as deterred them.
• What crimes did the bow street runners deal with in the industrial era 17th/19th centuries + what did the publish to aid their policing?

  Extended to a horse patrol to deal with highway robbers.

  • Also published a newspaper called the "Quarterly Pursuit" which contained a list of criminals descriptions & their crimes.
• What idea did the bow street runners introduce in the industrial era 17/19th centuries?

  The runners introduced the idea of preventative and professional policing.
• When were the met police set up in the industrial era + what was their roles + requirements to be in met police + what was uniform? + what did it extend to

  MET POLICE

  Set up in 1829 by Robert Peel

  • Wanted a full time professional force to investigate crimes, patrol and catch criminals. • Called Peelers / Bobbies.

  • Run by 2 commissioners

  • Headquarters at Scotland Yard

  • Covered a radius of 7 miles

  • 144 police constables

  • Must be able to: read, write, work 7 days • Wore a uniform and carried a truncheon and rattle.

  • Extended to a river and horse patrol by 1839.