questions

• 'the role of local communities was the most important factor in law enforcement before the Norman conquest'

  FOR: hue and cry (anglo saxons were expected to chase after criminal after hearing the hue and cry), and tithings (shires split into hundreds and each hundred divided into ten tithings, men over the age of 12 and all responsible for one another)

  AGAINST: role of the church through trial by ordeal, benefit of the clergy and sanctuary
• 'the role of the king was the most important factor in law enforcement by the early 13th century'

  FOR: all fines paid to the king which established authority. Forest Laws made 30% of England 'royal forest' and stopped anglo saxon people hunting there or using the land in any way. resulted in poaching being a crime

  AGAINST: role of local community (hue and cry, tithings), role of the church
• 'the importance of the king in law enforcement increased in early modern england'


  FOR: as towns grew the previous role of local communities in law enforcement became less effective so more organised system was put in place. town constables were employed by authorities

  AGAINST: hue and cry continued, town watchmen made up of local men, no national or centralised police force
• 'the church hindered justice in the early 13th century'

  FOR: benefit of the clergy - only clergy members could claim this by reciting Psalm 51 'neck verse'. church courts known for having more lenient punishments so they undermined traditional secular courts by only judging clergy members.

  AGAINST: sanctuary provided temporary escape for a criminal being brought to justice, but they were not completely pardoned and had to be exiled or sent to court after 40 days
• 'the main purpose of punishment in medieval england was deterrence'


  FOR: corporal punishment: hanging, whipping etc to stop people breaking the Forest Laws. capital punishment: rebellion in norman period punished with death to evoke fear.

  AGAINST: fines in anglo saxon period (wergild) was used as retribution.
• 'the main reason for the increase in highway robbery was the cheaper price of horses'

  FOR: horses were more easily accessible and as a result more people has mounted assistance to help robberies

  AGAINST: improved roads led to more people travelling which meant more likely to be victims of highway robbery. no police force to chase them - once mounted patrol was introduced the instances of highway robbery reduces and disappeared completely in the 1830s
• 'the main reason why prisons were reformed was due to the work of Elizabeth Fry and John Howard'


  FOR: Elizabeth Fry visited Newgate Prison and provided clothes and bedding for inmates; taught skills like knitting. her ideas influenced 1823 Gaols Act. John Howard published report on prison conditions in 1777. prisoners weren't separated, illness and disease, gaolers corrupt and too few employees, people couldnt afford to leave. led to 1774 Gaols Act which imporved health and sanitation.

  AGAINST: changing views and purpose of punishment - not be about retribution and deterrence
• 'capital punishment was an important part of the penal system from 1500-1900'

  FOR: Bloody Code: 17th century increase in the number of crimes punishable by death. Gunpowder Plotters were hung drawn and quartered as a deterrent.

  AGAINST: use of transportation to North America (1670-1776) and to Australia (1787-1868). increased use of prisons following prison reform and change in attitudes that encouraged rehabilitation and not deterrent.
• 'the main reason why the definitions of crime changed in the 20th century was immigration'

  FOR: multicultural society meant that there was a need for new legislation. 1968 race relations act criminalised racially motivated attacks.

  AGAINST: new technology made driving offences possible such as driving with a phone or speeding. new modern weapons have made terrorism more of a threat. cyber crime due to modern devices, and online theft and fraud.
• explain why the work of the fielding brothers was a significant advancement in policing


  1. Bow Street Runners. established in 1749. in 1785 were paid by the government. significant as introduced formal policing that was supported by the government - foundation for modern policing.
  2. introduced new ideas to tackle crime. mounted patrol, and shared information on crimes and suspects with others - significant as a beginning to crime intelligence network.
  3. first professional police force. influenced the setting up of the met police by robert peel. centralised policing
• explain why the metropolitan police was set up

  1. work of Robert Peel. set up the met police in 1829. centralised police force across London. inspired by Bow Street Runners
  2. fear of crime. uk in a financial crisis 1825-26. increase in crime due to economic crisis.
  3. government support for peel
• explain why the death penalty was abolished

  1. change in attitudes. idea of reform and rehabilitation more popular. people becoming more liberal
  2. alternative punishments - prison preferred. seen as more humane but still a deterrent and prevents reoffending. conditions of prisons also improved.
  3. controversial cases. Derek Bentley, Timothy Evans, and Ruth Ellis. Derek Bentley hanged for murdering a police officer even though he didn't shoot the gun - boy who did was under 18 so not hanged. Derek also had learning disabilities and a mental age of 10
• explain why the nature of prisons had changed by the 19th century

  1. changing attitudes. people believed that the punishment should fit the crime and rehabilitation was more important.
  2. Gaols Act 1774 and 1823 - work of Robert Peel. gaolers should be paid, chaplains visit prisoners regularly. imporved health and sanitation in prisons.
  3. work of Elizabeth Fry and John Howard. visited Newgate Prison and taught prisoners skills like reading and sewing to earn money. Howard published report on prisons led to 1774 Gaol Act
• explain why there was an increased intensity in witch hunts 1645-47

  1. individuals - Matthew Hopkins. named himself witchfinder general. stirred up mass panic and fear through his persecutions and pamphlets.
  2. individuals - James I. wrote Daemonologie which outlined his belief in witches and how they should be found and tried; death penalty for witchcraft.
  3. civil war: war and poor harvests resulted in economic problems and vulnerable women were used as scapegoats. civil war weakened control of local authority as all the men were gone
• explain why there was an increase in treason and heresy in the early modern period

  1. increased rebellions: when the monarch became head of the church, anyone challenging the church would therefore be committing treason
  2. religious uncertainty: the official religion of the country kept changing between catholic and protestant.
  3. Henry VIII: catholicism was no longer the official religion and the monarch was head of the church, many refused to change religion and rebelled in retaliation
• explain why the gunpowder plotters were punished so harshly

  1. deterrent: publicly executed to stop people rebelling against the monarch and church
  2. treason: worst crime that could be committed. a harsh punishment makes an example out of them
  3. political and religious uncertainty: plot occured not long aft james 1 had succeeded the throne and people hadn't accepted him as king. religious uncertainty and fear of catholic plots
• explain why the nature of crime changed in the 20th century

  1. society attitudes: race crimes: 1968 Race Relations Act. Criminal Justice Act 2005 gave courts the power to give more sever sentences for assault or murder if a crime was committed due to race, religion, or sexuality
  2. new technology: driving offences; driving while using a phone, speeding, driving under the influence.
  3. war: conscientious objectors: absolutists imprisoned, judged harshly by public
• explain why the church hindered justice in the early 13th century

  1. benefit of the clergy: church courts tried clergy for all crimes and typically gave more lenient punishments (no death penalty), had to recite psalm 51 but people could just memorise it - not equal.
  2. sanctuary: protection from the law by some churches, priest would report crime but criminal not allowed to be arrested. had to leave after 40 days
  3. trial by ordeal: outcome of trials was seen as God's judgment but later abolished in 1215
• explain how the police force changed within the 20th century

  1. new technology: motorised transport meant police can reach crime scenes faster. use of science and technology - DNA and fingerprinting, computers, radios, and CCTV.
  2. special police units: National Crime Agency: organised crime. Economic Crime Unit investigates large scale fraud. Police central e-crime unit for cyber crime and e-safety. Special Branch - terrorism.
  3. includes women and different ethnic groups: more diverse