Modern Britain crime, law enforcement and punishments

Question 1

Crime - Smuggling (continuity)

Answer 1

New items such as cigarettes, drugs and people for slave labour or prostitution.

Question 2

Crime - Terrorism

Answer 2

Modern weapons and the use of the internet means that more ordinary people are at risk. There have been many groups who have used terror tactics such as IRA or ISIS, but the Gunpowder plot of 1605 would be described as a terrorist plot today.

Question 3

Law enforcement - The Neighbourhood Watch

Answer 3

Introduced in 1982 and helped police to prevent crimes by encouraging vigilance. An estimated 3.8 million households involved in the scheme by keeping an eye on their neighbourhood

Question 4

Law enforcement - Police Community Support Officers (PCO’s)

Answer 4

Introduced in 2002 to prevent crime in communities. Police work with schools and community groups to educate people and create positive relationships between communities and police.

Question 5

Punishment - Abolition of the death penalty

Answer 5

Capital punishment was last used in the 1960s and abolished in 1998. There were several reasons for the abolition.

• changing attitudes towards punishment: rehabilitation and reforming prisoners back into valued members of society.
• controversial cases such as Derek Bentley and Ruth Ellis

Question 6

Punishment - Conscientious objectors

Answer 6

Conscientious objectors have politically, religiously or morally objections to war and became a crime in the 20th century during WW1 and WW2.

The Military Service Act 1916 said that people who were healthy and fit could be forced to go to war and could be arrested if refused. Support of both wars was important in society as members of the public had sacrificed themselves in the war effort. Those who conscientiously objected were seen as cowards and traitors who needed to be punished.