ENFORCING THE LAW 1450-1829

EXAM QUESTION (to be done at home by Monday 14^th January)

In what ways did methods of law enforcement change in the period c1450–c1830?

(12)

REVISION for Monday 14th Jan

(a) About 1450 to about 1600
In the late Middle Ages there were no police, so….

How did the authorities try to prevent crime?

Making groups of people responsible for each other’s actions
Tithing – every freeman belonged to a group of 10 men
Hue and cry – everyone had to hunt for the criminal
Scaring (deterring) people by the threat of punishment
Church teaching about right and wrong

How did they try to catch criminals?

It was up to ordinary people to catch criminals
Getting local people to decide if the person they knew was likely to commit a crime

(b) About 1600 to 1829

Preventing crime

No police force.
Constables who dealt with minor crimes and beggars.
Watchmen who kept an eye on property
Thieftakers. The most famous thieftaker was Jonathan Wild. He pretended to catch thieves. In fact he was a criminal in charge of a gang of thieves. He was hanged in 1725.
Part-time soldiers to put down riots
Bow Street Runners, a small private force in London set up by Henry and John Fielding
A few horse patrols in London to deal with highwaymen.


The first government run police force was set up by Sir Robert Peel (the Home Secretary) in 1829. This was the Metropolitan Police in London.