Enfircing Law and Order Flashcards
Describe methods of combatting crime in the medieval era
based around the responsibility of family and community
Tithings- men were grouped into groups of 10 people (tithings) and if one of them broke the law, all the other men in the tithing would be responsible for taking them to court and helping to deal with the crime.
Victims could also raise the ‘hue and cry’ where everyone who heard it would help the victim to run and catch the criminal
Parish constable in each village made sure the community responded properly to a crime
Later medieval period= 3 distinct court systems in place including the manor court, church court and royal court. Manor courts involved petty crimes like theft, church courts dealt with moral offences like failing to attend church but never sentenced anyone to death, Royal courts was the most serious way of dealing with crime
Methods of combatting crime in the 16th century
16th century- still involved communal methods of policing but hue and cry and tithings faded out in place for emergence of Justices of the Peace
There were roughly 30-60 Justices of the peace per county who were all responsible for helping to maintain law and order in their area including monitoring and control vagrants.
They were assisted by Parish constables and Night watchman
JPs were elected by their community and often they served for many years in a row proving that they were effective in doing their job.
By…London was rapidly growing so the Medieval method of using unpaid local people to enforce law and order was no longer effective
Mid 17th century
What officials were temporarily used after JPs, Parish constable and night watchman
Charleys
(A force of paid watchman who patrolled the streets of London from 1663)
What year were Charleys introduced
1663
When was the first time officials were paid to enforce law and order
1663- introduction of Charleys
Who passed an act in 1663 that led to the introduction of Charleys
Charles 11
Methods of combatting crime 17th century
However by the mid 17th century, using unpaid local people as a type of community policing was no longer effective as London was rapidly growing in size so there were too many criminals to be caught. This led to King Charles 11 passing an act in 1663 where a force of paid watchman would patrol the streets of London who were known as Charleys and unlike previously in the medieval era these officials were actually paid to do their work
Methods of combatting crime in 19th century up to police being compulsory in every county in 1856
Paid officials continued to be used however it started to become the governments responsibility not the community’s responsibility
Bow street runners developed idea of preventative policing and trying to stop crime from being committed instead of dealing with it after it had happened
Thief Takers captured criminals and claimed reward money for it
Metropolitan police established 1829 under Robert Peel
It was proved effective in London so moved to other areas of the country (goes national) through
Municipal Act 1835
Rural Police Act 1839
In 1856 made compulsory for police force to be set up in every county through County and Borough Police Act
Within a few years all JPs and constables were replaced
2 acts that made police go national (not just operate in London) due to it being effective
1835 Municipal Corporations Act
1839 Rural Police Act
When was a police force in every county made compulsory
1856
When did JPs and constables stop being used
Within a few years from when Police force was made compulsory in every county
(Police made compulsory in every county in 1856)
Changes in nature of policing 20th and 21st century
Police still used but developed to become more effective and to deal with new emerging types of crime including cyber crime
1)Number of police forces is reduced to 43 in 2000 to make running of police forces more cost effective
2) police training introduced before officers can start working and regular pay rises brought about
3) first women officially appointed as Police constables in 1919 (during WW1)
4) Community policing introduced- initiatives designed to assist the police e.g Neighbourhood Watch from 1982
Specialisation with specialist units of police officers working with different types of crime e.g Detective Branch
Technology used to speed up communication between police forces including computers
CCTV cameras introduced
Helicopters and police cars introduced
5 key dates:
Introduction of Charleys- fist paid officials who patrol street
Metropolitan police force introduced by Robert Peel
Police force compulsory in every county
Women serve in police force
Neighbourhood watch
Charleys introduced 1663 by Charles 11
Metropolitan police Act 1829
Police force compulsory in every county from 1856
Women first serve in police from 1919 during WW1
Neighbourhood watch scheme introduced 1982
