Enforcing law and order Flashcards
Geographical organisation of medieval England
Shire = county
Hundred = divided shires into hundreds
Parish = small community, 10 per hundred
Court organisation of medieval England
Royal court
Shire court
Hundred court
Church court
Royal court in medieval England
For the most important crimes such as treason
Or if a nobleman was on trial
Oversaw by king
Shire court
2nd most important for serious crimes like murder
Hundred/ manor court
Owned by a private landowner
For petty crimes
Jury consisted of a local Lord or a JP and locals
Considered hearsay over evidence
Church court
Only for clergy for moral crimes such as adultery or not knowing the Bible
Judged by bishops and priests
Advantages of medieval court system
Crimes being judged were fit for the judge
Disadvantages of medieval court system
Based on hearsay rather than evidence
Jury consists of locals in low level courts so they could have a grudge on the defendant and get them declared guilty, or try protect them
Who was responsible for enforcing the law in medieval era?
Local/self policing
But developed roles such as Sheriff, JP, chief Constable, parish Constable and night watchmen
Methods of medieval self policing
Tithings
Hue and cry
Medieval tithings and how they worked
Groups of 10 men
If a member committed a crime it was everyone else in the tithing’s responsibility to bring him to justice
Hue and cry method and how it worked
If the tithing members weren’t present to tackle the criminal, victim would cry for help
Then everyone who heard should come and help
The medieval sheriff
A royal official who was responsible for order in a shire (county)
Was a volunteer but had high social status
What was the job of a medieval sheriff
Raise a posse to capture criminals who escaped the hue and cry method
Medieval posse
A group of armed men who helped the sheriff capture escaped criminals
County assizes
When the royal court would go to every county and hear the serious crimes committed there
Carried on from medieval era to 1971
How did the medieval policing system develop?
They appointed the parish constable and chief Constable
JPs as in pain volunteers who set up courts to hear cases as magistrates
How did policing change in early modern era?
A rise in civic duty with increased responsibility on the JP, Parish Constable, Town watchmen etc
But still responsibility remained on the local community to an extent
Why did policing change In early modern era?
Because of a rising population, people lived in larger communities so it was easier to get away
More mobility to get away with crime
Civic duties in early modern era
JP
Parish Constable
Town watchman
JP in early modern era
Started in medieval era but became more important now
Responsibility for law and order in their county
JP in early modern era roles
Act as a magistrate in court
Deal with bridge and road repairs
License ale houses (sold alcohol)
Check accuracy of shop measurements
Supervise poor relief
Arrest and interrogate people
Petty sessions (early modern)
A local court where a few JPs would hold court sessions to deal with petty crimes like theft
Quarter sessions (early modern)
A court the JPs would hold to judge more serious crimes ie murder
4 times per year
Assize courts in early modern era
JPs would pass very serious offences such as witchcraft up to the royal court
How did the role of the JP change in early modern era?
Increased responsibility and duties
To the point it became a burden as the job was unpaid
Who organised the Parish Constable and Town watchmen in early modern era?
The JPs
Watchmen in early modern era
All men in a town had to volunteer
Would patrol streets of a large town every night
Not paid
How did the role of the town watchman change at the end of early modern era?
Charles II paid for a group of them to patrol out of taxes, marking a shift when the responsibility of law and order fell on powerful figures rather than local community
But mocked for being low paid
The Parish Constable in early modern era
Appointed by JP but unpaid so were mostly local farmers = self policing
Did day to day maintenance of the law
Roles of Parish Constable
Kept order in ale houses
Keep peace in Parish
Capture stray farm animals
Arrest criminals
Whip vagrants
Prevent trespassing
How was self policing still kept in early modern era?
All local people were duty bound to help Parish Constable if requested
Could be randomly selected to be PC
Had to volunteer as Townwatchman
All parishes had to upkeep poor law and oversaw road building
How did policing change in industrial era?
Self policing and civic duties weren’t as effective and were strained
So organised police forced began to be set up
What in industrial England caused the system of policing to change?
Rapid crime rates increase due to urbanisation and overpopulation
Local experiments found more effective methods
Rising threat of revolution
Problems with civic duties in industrial England
JPs = corrupt
Townwatchmen = ineffective and largely mocked
Parish Constable = hated their job
Thief takers (industrial England)
People who captured criminals then claim an award for turning them in
Problems with thief takers (industrial)
Som were corrupt like Jonathon Wild:
Would steal goods then advertise them in newspapers to find owner for its return for a fee = planted the crime
Negotiated with criminals or even black mailed them
Caused more crime = became organised crime
Civic duties
Someone’s responsibility as a citizen in society
Eg to volunteer to be parish constable, JP etc
Private police force
The police that tackle crime not government funded and a separate company
Used in early industrial era
Bow street runners (industrial)
Set up by brothers Henry and John Fielding and a group of men who would patrol around streets from their base in bow street
What did Bow Street runners use to help them? (Industrial)
Newspapers:
Advertised their force
Encouraged public help
Shared info about criminals + encouraged people to report info of them
Were the Bow Street runners effective? (Industrial)
Mostly in the area they patrolled as crime did decrease
But in other areas it didn’t because they only worked in a small area
Arguments in favour of supporting a formal police force in industrial England
Private forces only effective in their area
Cons tables + JPs overworked = ineffective
Violent crime and theft rising
People didn’t respect civic duties
New life or urbanisation meant police force had to adapt to this
Fear of working class revolution in UK (increase of riots)
Arguments against a formal police force in industrial england
Government could abuse police force to remove opposition
Not the government’s responsibility
An invasion of citizens privacy
It wouldn’t be effective, we need deterrence not a police force
