Crime and punishment in Britain, c.1000-present Flashcards
c.1000- c.1500 what were a few methods of law enforcement and punishment?
- No police. Local communities policed themselves
- Tithings
- Hue and cry
- Local juries
- Trial by ordeal
- Compensation fines ( wergild)
- Parish constables, coroners and sheriffs
- Manor courts and royal courts
- Execution and corporal punishment
What was criminal activity like during the medieval period?
- Petty theft most common crime.
- Violent crimes small minority of cases.
- Authorities regarded crimes that threatened authority as most serious ( treason and rebellion)
c.1500- c.1700 what were a few methods of law enforcement and punishment?
- No police, hue and cry, coroners and sheriffs
- Royal courts and manor house made more efficient
- Harsh punishments used to deter
What was criminal activity like during the early modern period?
- Petty theft most common
- Violent crimes a minority
- Authorities regarded treason, rebellion and heresy as the most serious crimes
- Witch craft became a criminal offence and fear of vagabonds increased.
c.1700- c.1900 what were a few methods of law enforcement and punishment?
- No police
- Growth in towns meant constables less effective
- Transportation used to deter
- In 1829 first police force set up
- Increased use of prisons
- Growing belief that criminals could be reformed
What was criminal activity like during the 18th and 19th centuries?
- Petty theft most common
- Violent crimes a minority
- Authorities regarded crimes that threatened trade and property as most serious ( highway robbery, smuggling and poaching)
- Rise in crime
c.1900- c.2020 what were a few methods of law enforcement and punishment?
- Fingerprinting, forensics and DNA used to investigate crime
- Specialist unit in police
- Fines most commonly used punishment
- Prisons used for more serious crimes
What was criminal activity like during modern Britain
- Petty theft remains common
- violent crimes a minority
- New technology has created new types of crime such as cyber crime and driving offences
- Race and drug crimes have become new offences
What are five key factors which encouraged or inhibited change?
- The influence of the church
- Attitudes in society
- Science and new technology
- The government
- Individuals
What is a tithing?
A tithing is a group of ten men responsible for each other’s behaviour. If one broke the law, the others had to bring him to court, or pay a fine
What was hue and cry?
Hue and cry was use if an alarm was raised, the entire village had to hunt for the criminal. If someone did not join the hue and cry then the whole village had to a heavy fine.
What was trial by local jury?
Trial by local jury was a jury of local men who knew the accuser and the accused. If there was no clear evidence, the jury members decided guilt or innocence based on their own knowledge of those concerned.
What was trial by ordeal?
Trial by ordeal was used if a local jury could not agree, then trial by ordeal was used in the hope that God would decide. All ordeal were taken in or near a church with a priest present.
List types of trial by ordeal
- Trial by cold water
- Trial by hot water
- Trial by hot iron
- Trial by blessed bread
What was trial by cold water?
Usually taken by men. The accused was but into water on the end of a rope. If the accused sank below the ‘pure water’ they were judged innocent. If the accused floated, then he had been rejected by the ‘pure water’ and was judged guilty.
