2E. Nature Of Crimes Flashcards
Why is it difficult to compare crimes across different periods
The authorities may crack down on a certain type of crime during a particular period
People may become more confident to report a particular crime
New laws may create new crimes and the definition of some crimes has changed
Why was the medieval era particularly violent compared to modern times
Evidence suggests that in the 1340s Oxford had a murder rate of 110 murders per 100000 people. In comparison the murder rate for Britain was one per 100000 people.
In medieval times many of these deaths would have been the result of a violent feud. People may have thought the King’s justice to be too slow or too corrupt so took matters into their own hands. Knives, sickles and other implements were easily accessible in agricultural communities. Death may not have been the intended outcome one, many may have died from resulting injuries that could have been easily treated today. It is difficult to be precise about levels of crime however, because much of it was not documented and the definition of each crime and how they are looked at has changed significantly.
Overall crime in the 16th and 17th Centuries
Decreases due to a series of good harvests in the later 1600s, a slower growth in population, the greater availability of work.
Theft and violence remained main crimes but the most common were thefts of small amounts of money, food and property. Only a small number were violent
Common crimes in medieval era
the Norman kings defined a criminal as someone who disturbed the king’s peace and laws focused on crimes against authority. For the monarchy this meant treason and rebellion while for the church this meant blasphemy and heresy ( this meant spreading religious beliefs that were not supported by the church. For example, a prominent group of heretics were thenLollards of the 15th century who wanted to read the bible in english rather than in Latin). Treason did not just refer to defying king, rather any authority, for example according to the 1351 Treason Act, this included a wife killing her husband.
There were a number of revolts during this period such as 1381 Peasants’ revolt against the poll tax, Jack Cade’s rebellion in 1450, against the poor way the country was being governed by Henry VI, the 1497 Cornish Rebellion, which was an attempt to overthrow Henry VII.
The most common crime was theft; As a result, Edward I passed a law in 1275 saying that all thieves would be executed however, theft still made up of 75% of crimes in first half of 14th C
Crimes specific to the period included,
-Scolding ( abusive or offensive speech heard in public. It usually related to domestic arguments but authorities believed it would cause disorder)
-Vagrancy (more common following the Black Death as survivors wandered countryside for food and work)
- Breaking forest laws( Norman kings owned all forests and inhabitants so cutting down trees or hunting without permission was a crime)
Vagrancy in the 16th C
During the Tudor period the number of vagabonds increased to 30000.
Some sturdy beggars used cons or tricks to steal from people or beg. Thomas Hardman published a ‘caveat for common cursetors” in 1566 which described different types of beggars. For example:
-the counterfeit crank-pretended to have violent fits and sucked soap to foam at the mouth.
- the bare top trickster- female beggars would flash men and trick them to follow them into a house where a gang of men would wait to rob them
- the clapper dudgeon- cut their skin to make it bleed than covered it with dirty rags, some children were deliberately mutilated by their parents to get more money from passers by.
Simply being a vagrant was a crime during Tudor times.
Heresy and treason in the 16th C
What constituted Heresy changed with each reign.
During the reign of Mary I 280 Protestants were burnt at the stake
Under Elizabeth I rule, a Protestant continuing catholic traditions became a heretic. However, Elizabeth proffered to convict people for treason rather than heresy
Smuggling in the 18th C
In 1688 Excise duty tax was widened to cover non luxury, essential items such as salt and soap. And custom duties increased. Many people thought this unfair as they were costing poor people much more than rich people; therefore it was not considered a crime by many people.
It was organised by gangs and funded by investors or venturers. They used secluded parts of. The coastline to land cargos from ships. The main items included tea, wine, spirits and lace. Gangs were made of 50-100 people each with a specific role: the spotsman would direct a ship to shore. A lander would arrange the unloading of the cargo and A tubsman carried the goods.
Smuggling began to reduce when the government reduced Taxes on tea and other goods in late 18th and early 19th Cs so smuggling became less profitable + watchtowers built along the south coast of England to protect against French Invasion making it more likely for smugglers to be caught.
Highway robbery in the 18th C
Usually worked alone or in small groups
A robber in foot was a footpad and was often part of a gang.
They targeted stagecoaches, carriages and mail coaches, armed with pistols and masks
Usually they did not have to use force as asking for valuables at gunpoint was enough.
Highway men are often glamorised in books, poems and films
The most well known highwayman in Britain was dick Turpin who was eventually hung in 1739
Highway robbery declined in the late 18th C mainly due to: Bow street horse Patrol. JPs beginning to refuse to license inns and taverns that provided sanctuary to highwaymen, continued urbanisation lead to fewer isolated stretches of road; the development of banking
Crimes connected to urbanisation in the 19th C
Theft was most common and concentrated in rookeries. Cities gave more opportunity to pickpockets although this was not a new crime. Stealing water, however, was a new type of theft which resulted form the squalor and poor living conditions of cities and people charged the use of water and pipes in streets. Fraudsters were also given more opportunity following the development of railways; they tricked investors and made false financial dealings in railway companies
Prostitution was not new, however there was concern at increasing exploitation of girls at brothels in London
Murder rate was less than 400 per year and decreased further after 1890, However, in the 1850s and 1860s a series of garrotting lead to public panic and in the 1880s the actions of a murderer who came to be known as JAck the Ripper attracted the widespread attention of the public and press. 5 women were murdered and mutilated in and area commonly known as the Evil Square Mile which was a slum area. The murderer’s identity was never discovered and they were never caught
Disorder during the industrial revoloution
The luddites: new machinery was introduced to textile mills and produced cloth more quickly and cheaply that weavers. In 1811 gangs of weavers and textile workers smashed 1,000 new machines in Nottingham and Derbyshire. Between 1812 and 1813 similiar groups smashed factory machines in Yorkshire and Lancashire at night. The government sent soldiers who fought a gun battle with luddites. In 1813 14 luddites were hung and movement dwindled
Chartists: a group of people met in Birmingham and drew up a list of six proposed changes to the voting system including votes for all men over 21, secret voting, annual elections, equal size constituencies, pay for MPs and MPs should not HAVE to own property.
The list was called the people’s Charter and was rejected twice by Parliament
The movement became violent when in wales 1839 three leaders were arrested during a peaceful protest by weavers and an angry crowd broke into the hotel where the leaders were being held, freed them and gained control of the town. After 5 days troops were sent in and 33 chartists were punished. In Newport 1839, 3,000 iron workers and coal miners met to show their support for the movement. Soldiers opened fire and 20 chartists were killed + 500 imprisoned and leaders transported to Australia
Agricultural disorder during the industrial revoloution
Mechanisation threatened the jobs of farm labourers. Additionally, new developments like turnpike roads and toll gates disrupted routes farmers used to get their produce to market.
Rebecca riots: between 1839 and 1843 groups of farmers disguised themselves as women and attacked toll gates in west wales as a protest against high tolls, increasing rent and poverty. One toll keeper was killed in an attack, the toll house burned down and the gate destroyed
Swing riots: agricultural labourers attacked houses and barns belonging to rich farmers and landowners in south-east England. They burned hayricks and smashed machinery. Threatening letters were sent to landowners from “captain Swing’
In response the government arrested 2,000 people, 19 of which were hanged, 644 jailed and 481 transported
The growth of crime in 20th C (development of motor car)
Many new crimes associated with cars e.g dangerous and careless driving, parking violations, speeding, joyriding, drink driving, driving without a license, insurance, road tax or MOT
Increase of Cybercrime in 20th and 21st Cs
Hacking, fraud, using malicious software, sexual crimes, cyber bullying, theft
Drug related crime in 20 and 21 C
Laws surrounding drug use have become tighter; therefore, the number of drug related crime has increased e.g drug trafficking or smuggling drugs into the country, manufacture of drugs, distribution and possession of drugs.
Increase in violent crime in 20thC
Football hooliganism- rose sharply in 1960s when rival gangs of supporters planned to fight each other, or attack and vandalise property at local public transport stations or on roads leading to stadiums.
Riots- occurred in august 2011 in london and other cities after fatal shooting by police of Mark Duggan in London
Gun and knife crime increased due to drugs and gangs
