Discuss the key features and changes in the history of crime and punishment in the UK

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Discuss the key features and changes in the history of crime and punishment in the UK

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Word Count: 1284


Crime and punishment has changed constantly throughout our history. From the earliest records we can piece together what types of crimes there were, and how they were punished in the United Kingdom. There have also been many changes which have helped mould our current legal system.

From very early on in the United Kingdom, the law involved the protection of property and individuals. We can see from early court records that the most common type of crime in the middle ages was that of theft. It accounted for nearly three quarters of all crimes, with murder coming next, receiving stolen goods, and then all other crimes including rape, arson, treason etc. only makes up around 2% of crimes. The punishments that were handed out for these crimes varied and were kept constant up until around the 19th century. The death penalty was often used as it was seen as the easiest option, and could be used as a deterrent for others. Prison, or ‘gaol’ as it was known as, was not usually seen as an option as it was too expensive. Hanging was seen as the best option, so much so that around 75,000 people were thought to have been executed in this manner between the year of 1530 and 1630.

There were other types of punishments including fines, the use of the stocks/pillory, boiling alive, and forfeiture of land or property. These would be used for petty crimes; there was no obvious punishment structure so punishments were handed out according to what was thought to be best. It was thought that if punishments were carried out publicly, it would be seen as a deterrent for others. These types of public punishments were the use of the gallows, whipping, and of course, executions. Public executions, which happened around eight times a year in Tyburn or Newgate, are known to have created large crowds, it was seen as entertainment. Crowds of between 3000 and 7000 people were considered normal on execution days. Until 1790 women who were convicted were hanged, and then their dead bodies were burned in front of the gathered crowds. For the men who were convicted, they were executed, and then were beheaded, their heads held up for the crowd to see.

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During the Tudor and Stuart period, there were many significant changes taking place throughout England. The population during this time doubled in size, this meant that were uprisings, and vagrancy was seen as a major threat for the country. There was no police system that was efficient enough, and this led to the emergence of the ‘thief-taker’. Crime rates were seen to be on the rise, and because there were now newspapers, this information on the crime rates was widely available to the public. Thief takers were private individuals hired to capture criminals. They were often hired by victims of ...

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