-
1066
William the Conqueror
Believed crimes committed against king's peace not individual. Needed money. Normans outnumbered & hated, e.g. knocked down Anglo-Saxon homes to build castles. Introduced feudal system. -
1500
Changes in early modern England
Increased travel as restrictions removed. Rising population. Bad harvests, e.g. 1590s wages at lowest since 1200. Printing press invented in 15th century. Religious turmoil (Protestant to Catholic). English Civil War (1642-49) created social upheaval & assize judges less able to travel so locals took role in law. Landowners richer & paid poor rates. -
James I
In 1597, future King James I published 'Daemonologie'. Set out reasons for believing in witches. Encouraged readers to find them & included instructions on how to run witch trials. When became King of England in 1603, published new edition. Described how witches had tried to drown him & his wife. God's representative on Earth. Obsessed with uncovering plots after Gunpowder Plot. -
Attitudes to women
More susceptible to temptation of Devil. Women who were local authorities on health/pregnancy treated with suspicion as disliked women having respected positions. Easy targets. 80% executed were women. -
Religion
Religious changes under Tudors. Fear of 'old' religion (Catholicism). Protestants preached that Devil & servants were tempting good Christians away from God. -
Fear of witches
Pamphlets spread (printing press developed in late 15th century). Cases about witchcraft especially enjoyed. Work of Hopkins increased fear. -
Matthew Hopkins
Witchfinder General. In 1645, started searching East Anglia for witches with John Stearne. Named 36 women as witches. Majority old/poor/vulnerable. Exhausted them by keeping on move/awake. Mouse/fly/spider in room was a familiar. Scar/boil/spot was Devil's mark. Charged for services. 1645-47, 112 executions for witchcraft in East Anglia & 300 investigated. -
Changes in 18th/19th century
Population rose from 9.5 million (1750) to 41.5 million (1900). Work moved into towns. Bad harvests had less effect. Increased travel. Government collected more taxes, e.g. import duties. 95% could read/write by 1900. Growing belief in 'criminal underclass'. Enlightenment & more scientific knowledge. Penny Dreadfuls told lurid tales of violent crime. -
John Howard
Published report on prisons in 1777. Highlighted issues with old prison system. Attacked fees. Proposals for healthier accommodations, separation of prisoners, better guards & decent diet. Criticised for being too lenient. -
Fear of protests & of crime
French Revolution (1789). Unemployment following war with France (1803-14). Belief crime, especially violent crime, rising. Local authorities given power to raise own taxes during war with France & could be used to pay for police force. -
Growth of towns
Made constables/watchmen inadequate. Problems especially serious in London. Too many people crammed into tightly-packed streets. Fear of crime & revolution strongest in London. -
Elizabeth Fry
Visited Newgate Prison in 1813. 300 women & children in 3 rooms. Highlighted poor living conditions & exploitation of female prisoners by male prison warders. Set up prayer groups & school for children at Newgate, teaching useful work like sewing. -
Sir Robert Peel
Home Secretary. Determined to improve lives by reducing crime. Used statistics of rising crime. Persuasive & reassured politicians police force was no threat to freedom. Influenced by penal reformers. -
Garroting crisis
In 1862, MP garroted near House of Commons. Newspapers stirred up outcry, blaming criminals who had won early release for good behaviour. Led to government introducing harsher regime (silent system). -
Derek Bentley case
Bentley had severe learning difficulties & mental age of 9, although 19. On 2nd November 1952, caught burgling warehouse in London. Fairfax arrested Bentley. Chris Craig asked to hand over gun. Ambiguous "Let him have it Chris" apparently said by Bentley (he & Craig denied). PC Miles shot. Bentley sentenced to death, Craig too young. Jury took 75 mins. Usually over 50% reprieved. 200 MPs signed memorandum. Home Secretary refused. Hanged on 28th Jan. 1953. 5,000 outside Wandsworth Prison.