Modern Britain: 1900 - present

• by 1930, cars were popular. In 1934 motorists didn't need a licence and over 7,000 people were killed on the roads. After 1935, all drivers had to pass a test.
• the law against hate crimes were introduced in 2007
• since 1960s in Britain the Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out bomb attacks in London from 1970s and 1990s. In July 2005, muslim extremists carrried out suicide bombings in London, killing 56 people
• smuggling in modern Britain

  tobacco, alcohol, drugs and people are smuggled.
• types of conscientious objectors

  alternativists and absolutists
• at the beginning of WW1 over 1 million joined the army, but by 1914, the Allies lost nearly 400,000 men and two-thirds of the original army were dead. By May 1916 conscription was introduced and all men 18 - 41 had to sign up. Around 16,000 men refused, many citing the commandment "thou shalt not kill"
• what was the conscience clause?


  allowed people the right to refuse to fight if it went against their beliefs but they had to face a tribunal to prove this
• In WW1, over 6,000 COs refused to accept the decision of the tribunal and were put in jail. 73 COs died as a result of their treatment. COs were couldn't vote until 1926. They were given white feathers on the street
• government reaction to COs in WW2


  conscription introduced again in 1939. Over 59,000 people, including women, registered as COs. Tribunals were still held, but now excluded ex-soldiers. Only sent to prison as a last resort
• public attitude toward COs in WW2

  attacked in newspaper, sacked from jobs, accused of cowardice and treason, attacked on the street
• by the late 1950s, every force had crime prevention officers (CPOs)
• In 1982, the Neighbourhood Watch was set up
• In London the police are overseen by the Mayor of London. England Police Commissioners are elected by the public to rebuild trust
• Since 1947, recruits have undertaken 14 week long training courses at the National College for Police Training.
• the total number of officers in 2015, spread across 43 forces in England and Wales, was almost 127,000
• use of cameras in modern policing

  CCTV and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition)
• since 1974 there has been a PNC (police national computer) which has a series of databases that officers have access to at all times
• since 1901 fingerprint technology has been used. Since 1988, DNA samples have been used to identify suspects
• in the 1930s, two way radios were introduced
• non-custodial sentences


  in 1907 probation was introduced. In 1967 parole was introduced. In 1972 community service was introduced, where people can be ordered to do 40 - 300 hours a week. In the 1990s, electronic tagging was introduced. In 1933 the 'open prison' was introduced
• between 1993 and 2015 the number of people in prison doubled
• in 1854 Edward Andrews, aged 15, was sent to Birmingham Borough Prison and after 2 months he hanged himself
• in 1902 Borstals were opened for offenders under 18, with 6 month - 2 year sentences
• in 1932 Approved Schools were set up for offenders under 15
• in 1948 Attendance Centres were introduced for offenders aged 10 - 21. Today they deal with offenders aged 18 - 24
• in 1959 Approved schools were closed down
• in 1982 Borstals were abolished since 60% of those released went on to reoffend
• currently, offenders under 18 can be held in a Secure Children's Home, a Secure Training Centre or a YOI
• in 1965 Labour MP, Sydney Silverman, introduced the 'Private Member's Bill' to suspend the death penalty for murder. It was passed in the House of Commons by 200 votes to 98 and passed in the House of Lords by 204 votes to 104
• in 1947 and 1956 the House of Lords twice blocked a law to abolish the death penalty
• in 1957 the Homicide Act was introduced, limiting the number of crimes carrying the death penalty
• in 1965 the death penalty was replaced with life imprisonment, apart from 3 crimes, for a 5 year trial period but this law was made permanent in 1969, and totally removed in 2004