Enforcing Law and Order - Topic 3 Flashcards
who was responsible for policing before 1500?
the communities
OVERVIEW - ENFORCING LAW AND ORDER BEFORE THE 16TH CENTURY
what was raising the hue and cry? (policing before 1500)
calling on villagers to chase a criminal (failure to do so resulted in a fine)
OVERVIEW - ENFORCING LAW AND ORDER BEFORE THE 16TH CENTURY
what were tithings? (policing before 1500)
adult men in groups of 10. if one member broke the law then it was the responsibility of the others to catch the culprit and take him to court
OVERVIEW - ENFORCING LAW AND ORDER BEFORE THE 16TH CENTURY
what would county sheriffs do once appointed? (policing before 1500)
they would form a posse comitatus (all men over 15) to chase a criminal when villagers failed to do so. The sheriff also investigated major crimes
OVERVIEW - ENFORCING LAW AND ORDER BEFORE THE 16TH CENTURY
when were county coroners appointed and what would they do? (policing before 1500)
appointed in 1190 and enquired into violent or suspicious deaths
OVERVIEW - ENFORCING LAW AND ORDER BEFORE THE 16TH CENTURY
what were trials like before 1500?
county courts were set up with a JP and each village had a manor court for minor cases
OVERVIEW - ENFORCING LAW AND ORDER BEFORE THE 16TH CENTURY
what were the laws of hywel dda?
- He was a welsh ruler in the 10th century who wrote Wales’ first legal system
- The laws were used for civil cases until 1540
- Put responsibility for enforcing law and order collectively
- The laws set out a system of compensation for victims of various crimes
EARLY/MODERN PERIOD (16th/17th centuries)
what was a JP? what was their role?
- Usually main local landowners
- Saw it as part of their social responsibility to enforce law and order however they did the role mainly for prestige
- Organising road and bridge repairs, checking weights and measures in shops, licensing ale houses, - supervising poor relief
- Led parish constables and watchmen
- Arrested and interrogated suspects and decided punishment
EARLY/MODERN PERIOD (16th/17th centuries)
what was a parish constable? what was their role?
- Appointed by JP for a year
- In addition to a person’s day job (unpaid role)
- Usually local tradesmen or farmers
- Keep order in ale houses, arrest those who have committed crimes, punish vagabonds, keep the peace in the parish and impound stray farm animals.
EARLY/MODERN PERIOD (16th/17th centuries)
what was a watchmen? what was their role?
- Not paid, all men expected to volunteer
- Patrolled streets on a nightly basis
- Role = call out the weather & time and help get drunkards home
- Known as ‘charlies’ after 1663 when King Charles II set up a force of paid watchmen
- Identified by heavy coat, lantern and bell
- The paying of watchmen marked a significant change away from communities policing themselves.
EARLY/MODERN PERIOD (16th/17th centuries)
when was the Acts of Union?
1536 and 1543
EARLY/MODERN PERIOD (16th/17th centuries)
what did the Acts of Union do?
made all English laws apply to the whole of Wales
Acts of Union made English the language used in Welsh courts and all public officers had to use English. These laws gave power to Welsh gentry (landowners) class, who now became JPs
INDUSTRIAL PERIOD (18th/19th centuries)
what caused some people in Merthyr Tydfil to experiment with setting up a more organised system of crime prevention?
the JPs were overworked as they continued with the ineffective medieval system. By the early 19th century, MT had become Wales’ largest town with a population of over 30,000 but was still policed by only 2 JPs
INDUSTRIAL PERIOD (18th/19th centuries)
what were thief-takers?
they captured criminals and claimed the reward money. they acted as unofficial law officers, negotiating the return of stolen goods for a fee
INDUSTRIAL PERIOD (18th/19th centuries)
what caused the thief-takers to become a thing?
the appearance of daily newspapers