Modern Period Flashcards
1900-PRESENT: what crime are common?
- CYBER CRIME (change)
- MURDER (continuity)
- PETTY THEFT (continuity)
- HATE CRIME (change)
- TERRORISM (change)
- CAR THEFT (change)
1900-PRESENT: what punishments are common?
- FINES (continuity)
- PRISON (continuity)
- OPEN PRISON (change)
- TAGGING (change)
- ASBO (change)
FOCUS ON REFORM
1900-PRESENT: how did police numbers and organisation of the force change?
BEFORE
- all forces ran differently
- Little co-operation between forces
NOW
- 43 local forces instead of 200
- Trained specialist officers
1900-PRESENT: how did training and recruitment change in policing?
BEFORE
- Military drill
- All male officers
- Low quality and poorly paid officers
NOW
- 14 weeks training
- 28% are women
- Specialist training
1900-PRESENT: how did transport change in policing?
BEFORE
- walked a beat of up to 20 miles a day
NOW
- Cars and motorbikes
- Foot and bike patrols to build community relations
1900-PRESENT: how did equipment change in policing?
BEFORE
- A whistle to call for help
- Wooden truncheons
- Pistols locked up for emergencies
NOW
- Batons and pepper spray
- Specialist officers
- Some can carry firearms
1900-PRESENT: how did crime detection change in policing?
BEFORE
- Eyes and ears of the officer
- Witness statements
NOW
- CCTV and number plate recognition
- 999 emergency number
1900-PRESENT: how has record keeping changed in policing?
BEFORE
- was poor and there was no national record
NOW
- Police national computer
1900-PRESENT: how have the main duties of officers changed in policing?
BEFORE
- Dealing with crime and drunkenness
NOW
- Law breaking, missing persons, keeping order etc.
1900-PRESENT: how has society changed in the c20th?
- Britain developed into a MULTICULTURAL and EQUAL society
- As ATTITUDES CHANGED laws were needed to ensure that all people were treated fairly so…
–> things were DECRIMINALISED e.g. 1977- male homosexuality over 21 2005- severe sentences for hate crime 1967- decriminalised abortion
1900-PRESENT: what crimes were new?
RACE CRIME
- 1968 race relations act
- 2005 criminal justice act
- 2006 race and religious hatred act
- Gave more power to the courts to give a harsher sentence
DRUG CRIME
- 1971 misuse of drugs act
- Taking/supplying = illegal
- controversial
- Some argue that it is a personal choice but some ague that it is wrong
DRIVING OFFENCES
- New due to increased numbers of cars
- technological advances
- driving under the influence and speeding
1900-PRESENT: what were the major changes in policing?
- Mostly about PREVENTION as well as catching criminals
- MOTORISED TRANSPORT means crimes can be reached FASTER but it also means there are FEWER officers ON THE STREETS
- There are now ARMED OFFICERS who look like soldiers which NOT EVERYONE LIKES
- The modern force includes WOMEN and ETHNIC MINORITIES
- In 2002 PCSO’S were introduced to prevent crime in the community
- Advances in SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY have had an impact on crime prevention and prosecution
1900-PRESENT: what are the aims of the neighbourhood watch?
- REDUCE FEAR of crime by increasing COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- HELP police PREVENT crime
- REPORT crime TRENDS to the police
1900-PRESENT: what was the neighbour hood watch?
- A form of COMMUNITY POLICING
- it was set up by THATCHER and the Tory government as they wanted to INCREASE the ROLE of the INDIVIDUAL and REDUCE the role of the GOVERNMENT
- This concept was VOLUNTARY and was taken from the USA was believed to be effective in TACKLING CRIME
1900-PRESENT: what are the positive views on the neighbourhood watch?
- Encourages people to take an ACTIVE PART in making the community SAFER
- The police RELY on local cooperation and they CAN’T POLICE EFFECTIVELY with the SUPPORT of the COMMUNITY
- Makes people FEEL SAFER and less vulnerable
- Works well for tackling issues such as anti-social behaviour
1900-PRESENT: what are the negative views on the neighbourhood watch?
- Most groups are in WEALTHIER AREAS that don’t have a high crime rate when they are NEEDED ELSEWHERE
- It is a government excuse to UNDER FUND the police service and it relies on volunteers doing the POLICES JOB
- Members tend to be OLDER PEOPLE who want to be NOSY and don’t REPRESENT the whole community
1900-PRESENT: what led to the abolition of the death penalty?
- By 1965 many wanted the deal penalty abolished
- Britain in the 1960’s was a LABOUR GOVERNMENT –> there was a focus on a MODERN DYNAMIC GOV
- The 1960’s was an ERA OF CHANGE particularly in ATTITRUDES –> this was clear in legislation
- People talked of a ‘PERMISSIVE SOCIETY’
1900-PRESENT: what are reasons FOR the death penalty?
- a DETERRENT
- The idea of a LIFE FOR A LIFE –> RETRIBUTION
- Get rid of those who CAN’T BE REFORMED
- CHEAPER than prison
- They have no chance to kill again
1900-PRESENT: what are reasons AGAINST the death penalty?
- There could be a MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE
- INHUMANE
- IRREVERSIBLE
- Executioners GUILT
- Murder is often SPONTANEOUS so there isn’t a DETERRENT
- Other countries abolished it and there was NO MAJOR CHANGE IN THE CRIME RATE
1900-PRESENT: What are reasons for the abolition of the death penalty?
- Changes in ATTITUDES
- POLITICAL influences
- WORLD WARS changed attitudes towards death
- Changing attitudes towards the PURPOSE OF PUNISHMENT
- In 1957 HANGING was ABOLISHED for most crimes
- MANY CHANGES WERE INFLUENCED BY THE 1948 DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HIGH PROFILE CASES*
1900-PRESENT: what happened with Derek Bentley?
- He was HANGED for the MURDER of a POLICEMAN
- He was with another boy who actually shot the policeman
- CRAIG was asked to hand over the gun when Bentley shouted LET HIM HAVE IT –> this was seen as ENCOURAGEMENT BUT
- Bentley had severe LEARNING DIFFICULTIES and struggled to make friends because of it.
- His phrase could have been interpreted in two ways
- He had INCREDIBLY LOW INTELLIGENCE and POOR UNDERSTANDING
1900-PRESENT: How was Derek Bentley punished?
- The jury asked for MERCY
- Craig was TOO YOUNG to get the death penalty but BOTH were charged with murder
- There was PUBLIC OUTCRY and the sentence rested with the HOME SECRETARY. –> 200 Mp’s asked for LENIENCY but he still got the death penalty
1900-PRESENT: what were the consequences of Derek Bentley’s case?
- It was seen as a MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE
- It impacted ATTITUDES towards the death penalty
- He was eventually given a POSTHUMOUS PARDON after a very LONG CAMPAIGN
- It made the law look CRUEL and capital punishment IMMORAL
1900-PRESENT: how did crime change?
- There was BETTER STANDARDS OF LIVING and the welfare state provides a SAFETY NET BUT
- the DIVISION between rich and poor is growing
- Although absolute poverty declined many people FEEL POOR compared to the wealthy
1900-PRESENT: how does the way crime is recorded affect the figures?
Recorded crime has increased rapidly
- more people are WILLING to report
- More people report for INSURANCE PURPOSES
- Crime is recorded MORE CONSISTENTLY
1900-PRESENT: how has smuggling changed?
- People now smuggle legal products, PEOPLE and DRUGS rather than brandy, tea and cloth like in the past
- People STILL smuggle to AVOID duty TAX, big PROFIT and public DEMAND
- Smugglers now smuggle by AIR as well as LAND AND SEA like in the PAST
1900-PRESENT: what were conscientious objectors?
People who REFUSED to take part in CONFLICT for MORAL REASONS
- They were known as conchies
1914 - soldiers were VOLUNTEERS
1916 - CONSCRIPTION was introduced
1900-PRESENT: why were some men conscientious objectors?
- Most had RELIGIOUS objections
- Some had POLITICAL objections –> they thought that the ruling classes of Europe were arguing and getting ordinary people killed
- about 16,000 men were CO’s
- They were frequently accused of COWARDICE
1900-PRESENT: what did CO’s have to do to be able to not fight and how were they punished?
- They had to appear in front of a LOCAL TRIBUNAL run by EX-MILITARY men to state their case
- Some CO’s agreed to HELP THE WAR EFFORT by working in England in WAR-RELATED JOBS or non-fighting roles on the front line
- Some did REFUSE and were IMPRISONED and put in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, HARD LABOUR and a LONG SENTENCE (73 died in prison)
- ALL CO’s were STRIPPED of their RIGHT TO VOTE until 1926
1900-PRESENT: how was world war 2 different for conscientious objectors?
1939 - CONSCRIPTION introduced
59,000 people registered as CO’s
There were NO EX-MILITARY on the TRIBUNAL
- There was more of an EFFORT to find ALTERNATIVE WORK
- FEW were sent to PRISON
- They were ATTACKED in the MEDIA and many were SACKED from their jobs
1900-PRESENT: how did prisons change?
1900 - 1933 –> prisons became LESS HARSH
- The belief that CRIMINALITY was INHERITED declined and people thought that crime was due to POVERTY
- Prisons were intended to HELP prisoners with better TREATMENT and EDUCATION
1900-PRESENT: what were key dates around the prison system?
1902 - abolition of hard labour
1922 - Solitary confinement, arrow prison uniforms and the convict crop abolished. Living conditions improved and more visitors and teachers were employed to prepare for work
1933 - The first open prison –> rules are more relaxed, prisoners could leave for work and return which prepares inmates for outside life
1900-PRESENT: why did the prison population grow?
- The FEAR of crime ROSE and there was more PRESSURE on politicians to be ‘TOUGH ON CRIME’
- LENGTH of SENTENCES INCREASED as a result
- There was an increased likelihood of crimes being related to sexual, drug and violent offences
- Number of people on REMAND increased
1900-PRESENT: what happened with under staffing and over crowding in prisons?
- over crowding peaked in the 1980’s
- There was an increase in the number of SERIOUS ASSAULTS in prison
- A record number of deaths in custody (2014)
- Decline in purposeful activities
1900-PRESENT: does prison work?
- There are HIGH RATES of REOFFENDING
- Young prisoners LEARN FROM OLDER CRIMINALS
- Some develop drug habits
- Hugely EXPENSIVE for the government and family
- Doesn’t deal with issues THAT MADE the individual commit the crime
1900-PRESENT: what are the key dates in non-custodial alternatives?
1907 - introduction of PROBATION
1914 - Longer to pay fines
1962 - Abolition of ‘birching’ (beating with a stick)
1967 - Introduction of parole and suspended sentences
1972 - community service
1990’s - electronic tagging
1900-PRESENT:how has the way young offenders are treated changed?
C20TH
–> Harsh attitudes and treated as adults
C21ST
–> Belief children were developing could change behaviour
1900-PRESENT: what are the key dates regarding young offenders?
1902 - BORSTALS introduced –> like boarding schools
1932 - APPROVED SCHOOLS for u18’s, trained in life skills. They were PHASED OUT in 1959 because of RIOTS and BUNKING
1948 - ATTENDANCE CENTRES for 10-21’s. Had COMPULSORY sessions doing BASIC LITERACY and NUMERACY as well as life skills. Now used for 18-24’s with a focus on IMPACT ON BEHAVIOUR
1982 - YOUTH DETENTION CENTRES replaced Borstals. Had military drill to add a shock factor but re-offending still increased.
1900-PRESENT: how were youth re-offending rates managed?
YOUTH COURTS
- work with agencies to prevent young people becoming established criminals
PARENTAL SENTENCING
- parents fined for not controlling children who can be removed and placed in care
CUSTODY
- a last resort. Secure children’s homes are used instead of detention centres where possible
ATTENDANCE CENTRES
- a last resort before young offenders institutions
NON-CUSTODIAL
- tagging and curfews as well as counselling to find the root of the crime
