Crime an punishment - Past paper questions

(Whitechapel, c1870-c1900: crime, policing and the inner city): Q1 November 2021: Describe two features of the lodging houses in Whitechapel. (4 marks)

- Lodging houses provided a cheap place to sleep (1).

- There were many transient individuals in the area who used lodging houses as temporary accommodation (1). •

- Some lodging houses had men sleeping in 8-hour shifts in a bed (1).

- This allowed the owners to maximise profits as they could charge two or three people for sleeping in the same bed.

- The conditions in the lodging houses were poor (1). They were over-crowded and unhygienic (1).

- Accept other appropriate features and supporting information.

(Whitechapel, c1870-c1900: crime, policing and the inner city) Q1. Summer 2022: Describe two features of the work of H Division in the policing of Whitechapel. (4 marks)

Police from H Division would walk a beat within Whitechapel (1). They would patrol the streets, hoping that their presence would prevent crime but would also deal with drunks, traffic, accidents, etc. (1). • 15 detectives from CID were assigned to H Division (1). Detectives would use investigative techniques to find out who had committed crimes (1). • Police from H Division were involved in trying to catch Jack the Ripper (1). Inspector Abberline was in charge of the investigation (1).

(Whitechapel, c1870-c1900: crime, policing and the inner city) November 2020: 1. Describe two features of the way the Peabody Estate helped to improve housing in the Whitechapel area.

The Estate consisted of 11 blocks of flats, built to replace courtyard slums (1). This was a model housing estate paid for by the American, George Peabody (1). • This was part of a slum clearance programme following the passing of the 1875 Artisans' Dwellings Act (1). The estate opened in 1881 (1). • Flats were available varying in size from one room to three rooms (1). The rents were reasonable, depending on how many rooms the flat had (1)

(Whitechapel, c1870-c1900: crime, policing and the inner city): Summer 2019 Question 1 Describe two features of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee.

This was a volunteer group formed to offer protection to people in the Whitechapel area in 1888, in response to Jack the Ripper's activities (1). It was led by George Lusk (1). • The committee asked the government to offer a reward for information about the killer (1). When the government refused, the committee put up its own reward (1). • The committee consisted of local shopkeepers and property owners (1). The committee paid unemployed men to patrol the area at night (1)

(Whitechapel, c1870-c1900: crime, policing and the inner city): June 2018 1 Describe two features of life in the Whitechapel workhouses. (4 marks)

Food was basic (1). Meals consisted of gruel, bread and cheese (1). • Families were separated (1). There were separate sections for men, women and children (1). • Life was deliberately unpleasant (1). Inmates were set to do hard work and there were many punishments; William Valance banned women from drinking tea and men from smoking (1).

(Whitechapel, c1870-c1900: crime, policing and the inner city): Sample 1 Describe two features of accommodation for the poorer people in the Whitechapel area. (4 marks)

There were many slum houses (1). They had little ventilation (1). • Lodging houses were common (1). These were temporary residences for those without a permanent home (1). • The workhouse gave shelter to those too poor to pay rent (1) South Grove Workhouse provided accommodation for about 400. (1).

(Whitechapel, c1870-c1900: crime, policing and the inner city): Specimen 1 Describe two features of the policing system in Whitechapel. (4 marks)

Police officers walked a beat through the area (1). Their presence was intended to deter crime as well as to catch criminals committing crime (1). • Whitechapel was policed by H Division (1). Different sections of the police force were responsible for different areas (1). • A police superintendent was in charge of policing the area (1). Under his control was a force of inspectors, sergeants and constables (1).

Explain one way in which attitudes towards the crime of poaching during the medieval period were similar to attitudes towards the crime of poaching the years c1700-c1900.

In both periods, poaching was seen by many people as a social crime that did not actually harm anyone and was usually committed in order to provide food. In the medieval period, this was because people resented common land being reserved for the king's use and in the period c1700-c1900, landlords were often seen as selfish in preventing trespassing on their land. • In both periods, poaching was seen as a challenge to authority. Poaching involved trespass onto land; in the medieval period this challenged the Forest Laws and in the years c1700-c1900 it challenged the Black Acts.

Explain why there were changes in the use of prison as a punishment in the period c1900-present.

- The feeling that young criminals were hardened by being included in adult prisons led to the creation of borstals specifically for youth offenders.

- The idea of reforming criminals and preparing them to earn a wage after leaving prison meant that training and education began to be offered in borstals and then in Young Offenders Institutes.

- The attempt to differentiate between those convicted of severe or petty crimes, and first-time offenders or habitual criminals, led to the classification of prisons and open prisons being established.

- The growing focus on rehabilitation meant open prisons could be used as preparation for the criminal to be reintegrated into society

- A change in attitude towards punishment, with a move away from physically hard labour and demeaning prison conditions, led to improved facilities within prisons

- Recognition that many crimes are rooted in poor education or in drug use, led to programmes being implemented in prisons with the intention of reducing the chances of criminals reoffending after their release.

The idea of retribution was the main factor affecting methods of punishment during the medieval period.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: • Wergild • the stocks You must also use information of your own

Relevant points that support the statement may include:

• Wergild was intended to exact retribution as the payment of a fine would punish the offender personally. • Throughout the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods, many punishments, such as the use of the stocks, were intended to inflict physical punishment and public humiliation, satisfying a demand for vengeance against the criminal. • Different levels of fines, physical pain and humiliation meant that punishment could reflect the severity of the crime, and that it was appropriate retribution. • The death penalty was used as the ultimate form of retribution, exacting vengeance for severe crimes that threatened society.

Relevant points to counter the statement may include: • A purpose of Wergild was to compensate the victim's family, based on the social status of the victim. • The idea that retribution was the purpose of punishment was undermined by the change from Wergild to Botgild, which suggests that fines were used as a way of raising money rather than as retribution. • Deterrence was a key aspect of punishment; physical punishments were carried out in public so that the pain and humiliation would deter people from committing similar crimes. • One reason for the use of the death penalty was to protect society by removing a criminal at a time when prison was not used as a punishment.

'In the years c1600-c1900, the use of transportation had a greater impact on crime than the impact of the Bloody Code did.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer. • Australia • public execution You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points that support the statement may include: • Transportation to Australia had a huge impact on crime levels because it punished criminals by removing them from society. • Transportation was a very effective deterrent because there was a big element of the unknown, and the punishment was feared. • Public execution removed a criminal from society but was not an effective deterrent because many people treated an execution as an opportunity for a holiday and further crime was often committed. • The Bloody Code had little impact on crime levels because many people saw the increase in capital crimes and harsh punishments, such as whipping, as unfair and the punishment as excessive. Therefore, many juries refused to convict, or the judge did not use the death penalty.

Relevant points to counter the statement may include: •The Bloody Code greatly increased the number of capital crimes, deterring a wide range of petty crimes in addition to serious crimes. • Many more people were affected by the Bloody Code and therefore it had a greater impact on crime, whereas transportation affected a relatively small number of criminals. • Transportation had limited impact on crime because America declared its independence and then Australia refused to accept more criminals, so its use was ended in 1868. • Transportation was not effective as a deterrent because some people wrote letters saying they were being well treated and were prospering, especially when there was a gold rush in Australia.

(Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present) 2020 3: Explain one way in which the role of local communities in law enforcement in the medieval period was similar to the role of local communities in law enforcement in the modern period.

Relevant points may include: • In both periods, the community was expected to report crimes. In the medieval period, people were expected to raise the hue and cry and modern phone 'tip lines' and websites encourage the reporting of suspicious activity to the police so that criminals can be caught. • In both periods, the local community was expected to uphold the law. The tithing system in the medieval period made men responsible for each other's good behaviour and Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the modern period aim to deter criminals by suggesting the area is closely monitored.

(Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present): Specimen 3: Explain why there were changes in the way that religion affected law enforcement in the years c1000-c1700. You may use the following in your answer: • trial by ordeal • accusations of witchcraft You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points may include: • The use of trial by ordeal ended because the Church's attitude changed and in 1215, clergy were forbidden to participate; Henry III abolished its use in 1219 as legal trials by jury became more common. • Religion was an important way to reinforce political and social conformity, so accusations of witchcraft increased during the Reformation period and the English Civil Wars. • There was concern about the abuse of Benefit of the Clergy and the right of sanctuary during the later Middle Ages, so the Church's role in offering protection declined. • Religion was sometimes used as a justification for rebellion and therefore heresy became a crime that was punished by the state. • The link between religion and political authority strengthened during the Reformation, leading to new laws to enforce religious conformity. • The Church's role in propaganda and law enforcement increased during the Reformation period as it was used to remind people of their duty of obedience.

5 'The attitude of the authorities was the main reason for changes in the use of the death penalty in the period c1700-present.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: • public executions • Derek Bentley You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points that support the statement may include: • The authorities became concerned that public executions were not a deterrent since they were often treated as a holiday and allowed the criminal to be seen as a hero; consequently executions were moved inside a prison. • Public executions were ended because the authorities became concerned that they were often an opportunity for more crime or public disorder. • The increasing severity of the Bloody Code meant that judges became reluctant to impose the death penalty for minor crimes. • More humanitarian attitudes among politicians led to the reduced use of the death penalty, e.g. Peel reduced the number of capital crimes and, after 1908, under 16s no longer received the death penalty. • In 1999, the death penalty was formally abolished by the British government as an accepted part of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Relevant points to counter the statement may include: • The cases of Derek Bentley in 1953, and Ruth Ellis in 1955, raised public concerns over the use of the death penalty because no allowance could be made for the circumstances of the crime. • The emphasis on prison reform by individual humanitarians, such as Elizabeth Fry, led to a greater range of alternative punishments to be used. • The case of Timothy Evans in 1950 highlighted the fact that mistakes could be made and led to pressure from the public to review the use of the death penalty.

6 'Specialisation has been the most significant development in the nature of police work in the years since the creation of the Metropolitan Police (1829).' How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer. • Criminal Investigation Department (CID) • radios You must also use information of your own

Relevant points that support the statement may include: • The creation of the CID in 1878, separated detectives who would investigate serious crime, from the ordinary policeman on the beat. • Dog units were introduced in the 1920s and used to track down criminals; more recently to detect drugs. The dog handlers receive special training. • In 1965, the Special Patrol Group was set up as the police took over responsibility from the army for dealing with civil disturbances; this work requires special equipment and additional training. • In 1971, the Anti-Terrorist Squad, or Bomb Squad, was set up to deal with terrorist threats; this requires specialised training and equipment.

Relevant points to counter the statement may include: • Personal radios for police officers were introduced during the 1960s; this allowed them to communicate while on patrol and made the police more effective. • The use of computers has made it possible for information to be shared more effectively but has meant that routine police work involves desk work as well as the 'beat'. • New laws have changed the nature of police work as police are expected to deal with offences such as 'hate crimes' where no physical damage has been done. • The use of forensic science has made the police more effective as the analysis of fingerprints, ballistics, blood splatter, and DNA can lead to conviction.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present Question

3 Explain one way in which law enforcement in the medieval period (c1000-c1500) was different from law enforcement during the modern period (c1900-present).

• In the medieval period (c1000-c1500) law enforcement mainly depended on community action but in the modern period (c1900-present) there was a professional police force. • In the medieval period (c1000-c1500) there was little evidence that could be used to identify the criminal after the crime had been committed but in the modern period (c1900-present) the police could use forensic techniques to identify the criminal from fingerprints or DNA evidence.

4 Explain why new crimes were defined in the period from c1900 to the present day. You may use the following in your answer: • driving offences • race crimes. You must also use information of your own.

New technology made new antisocial behaviour possible, for example the development of the car made it possible to speed, drive while influenced by drugs or alcohol, or drive without insurance. • An understanding of the dangers connected to the use of new technology, such as driving too fast, prompted new laws. • New technology made it possible to commit crimes in new ways, such as credit card theft and internet fraud, and therefore new laws were passed to define these new crimes. • The large numbers of immigrants from Commonwealth countries and elsewhere during the twentieth century, led to a multi-ethnic society leading to laws being passed to prevent racial discrimination. • Changing attitudes made certain behaviours unacceptable and prompted changes in legislation, for example discrimination on the grounds of sex or race. • Changes in the position of women in society led to new laws against domestic violence

The role of religion was the main reason why there were changes in the number of accusations of witchcraft in the early modern period (c1500-c1700).' How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: • religious beliefs • Matthew Hopkins. You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points that support the statement may include: • The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were a time of religious reformation when religious beliefs had a strong influence on the way people behaved, and the Bible condemned witchcraft. • A belief in witchcraft and the Devil offered an explanation for bad events happening and provided a scapegoat to blame. • The role of the monarch in religion linked civil and religious beliefs so witchcraft became a crime dealt with in the courts. • In the later seventeenth century, changes in religious beliefs meant that people were more willing to accept scientific explanations for events which would previously have been attributed to witchcraft, so accusations declined. Relevant points to counter the statement may include: • The inflation of the late sixteenth century and the introduction of the Poor Law increased social tensions and tended to isolate women who were dependent on charity. • The peak of witchcraft accusations can be attributed to the activities of Matthew Hopkins, who styled himself the 'Witchfinder General'. • King James I's book Daemonology explained how to identify a witch, which encouraged accusations to be made. • The increased stability and prosperity of the late seventeenth century led to a decline in accusations as there was less need to find a scapegoat.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: 1 Explain one way in which attitudes towards the crime of poaching during the medieval period were similar to attitudes towards the crime of poaching the years c1700-c1900.

Relevant points may include: • In both periods, poaching was seen by many people as a social crime that did not actually harm anyone and was usually committed in order to provide food. In the medieval period, this was because people resented common land being reserved for the king's use and in the period c1700-c1900,

landlords were often seen as selfish in preventing trespassing on their land. • In both periods, poaching was seen as a challenge to authority. Poaching involved trespass onto land; in the medieval period this challenged the Forest Laws and in the years c1700-c1900 it challenged the

Black Acts.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain one way in which the use of prison as a punishment in the years c1700-c1900 was different from the use of prison as a punishment in the years c1900-present.

The purpose of prison has changed. In the years c1700-c1900, it was mainly regarded as a punishment with a focus on captivity and hard labour but in the years c1900-present, the focus is

generally on rehabilitation, with education and drug programmes being offered. • The treatment of prisoners has changed. For most of the period c1700-c1900, prisoners were often placed together in large cells, their situation was unhygienic and they were badly treated but in the modern period, there is more emphasis on human rights and prisoners have more facilities available to

them.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: 3 Explain one way in which the role of local communities in law enforcement in the medieval period was similar to the role of local communities in law enforcement in the

modern period.

- In both periods, the community was expected to report crimes. In the medieval period, people were expected to raise the hue and cry and modern phone 'tip lines' and websites encourage the reporting of suspicious activity to the police so that criminals can be caught.

• In both periods, the local community was expected to uphold the law. The tithing system in the medieval period made men responsible for each other's good behaviour and Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the modern period aim to deter criminals by suggesting the area is closely monitored.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain one way in which the treatment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs was similar to the way Conscientious Objectors during the First World War were treated.

Relevant points may include:

• Both the Tolpuddle Martyrs and Conscientious Objectors were seen as troublemakers and treated harshly - the Tolpuddle Martyrs were transported and Conscientious Objectors were imprisoned if they refused to serve in any way.

• The law was manipulated so that both the Tolpuddle Martyrs and Conscientious Objectors were used as examples to deter other people from behaving in the same way (forming a union / refusing to fight in

the war).

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain one way in which the nature of punishment during the years c1500-c1700 was different from the nature of punishment in the period c1900-present.

Relevant points may include:

• Punishments during the years c1500-c1700 focused on deterrence and were therefore usually public (such as the stocks or public hanging) whereas punishment c1900-present is more concerned about rehabilitation and often carried out in private (such as prison education programmes).

• Punishment during the years c1500-c1700 was often physical (such as the stocks or whipping) whereas punishment during the period c1900-present is rarely physical and tends to be community service, fines or prison.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain one way in which smuggling in Britain during the eighteenth century was similar to smuggling during the twentieth century.

Relevant points may include:

• Smuggled goods were often 'luxury' goods such as tea, brandy, or silk in the eighteenth century and cigarettes and alcohol in the twentieth century.

• Smuggling was often carried out by organised gangs who had a distribution network to sell the goods in both periods.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain one way in which law enforcement in the medieval period (c1000-c1500) was different

from law enforcement during the modern period (c1900-present).

- In the medieval period (c1000-c1500) law enforcement mainly depended on community action but in

the modern period (c1900-present) there was a professional police force.

• In the medieval period (c1000-c1500) there was little evidence that could be used to identify the criminal after the crime had been committed but in the modern period (c1900-present) the police could use forensic techniques to identify the criminal from fingerprints or DNA evidence.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: 4 Explain why there were changes in the use of prison as a punishment in the period

c1900-present.

You may use the following in your answer:

• borstals

• open prisons

You must also use information of your own.

The feeling that young criminals were hardened by being included in adult prisons led to the creation

of borstals specifically for youth offenders. • The idea of reforming criminals and preparing them to earn a wage after leaving prison meant that

training and education began to be offered in borstals and then in Young Offenders Institutes. • The attempt to differentiate between those convicted of severe or petty crimes, and first-time

offenders or habitual criminals, led to the classification of prisons and open prisons being established. • The growing focus on rehabilitation meant open prisons could be used as preparation for the criminal

to be reintegrated into society. • A change in attitude towards punishment, with a move away from physically hard labour and

demeaning prison conditions, led to improved facilities within prisons. • Recognition that many crimes are rooted in poor education or in drug use, led to programmes being implemented in prisons with the intention of reducing the chances of criminals reoffending after their

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain why there have been changes in the crime of theft in the years c1900-present.

You may use the following in your answer:

• credit cards

• shoplifting

You must also use information of your own.

Theft could become an ongoing process because a stolen credit card can be used multiple times in a

short period rather than being a single act of theft. • It is easier to steal money because the development of credit cards and online banking has meant the

thief does not have to be physically next to the person and therefore the theft is more difficult to trace. • It has become easier to shoplift items with the growth of self-service shops instead of a shop assistant

having to pass everything to the customer. • The use of computers has meant accounts can be hacked remotely, money can be embezzled or

information can be stolen. • The combination of computers and online banking has made large scale phishing and organised scams

possible. • Organised gangs have developed schemes to steal cars and change the appearance of the cars in order

to re-sell them.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain why there were changes in the way that religion affected law enforcement in

the years c1000 c1700.

You may use the following in your answer:

• trial by ordeal

• accusations of witchcraft

You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points may include: • The use of trial by ordeal ended because the Church's attitude changed and in 1215, clergy were forbidden to participate; Henry III abolished its use in 1219 as legal trials by jury became more

common. • Religion was an important way to reinforce political and social conformity, so accusations of witchcraft

increased during the Reformation period and the English Civil Wars.

• There was concern about the abuse of Benefit of the Clergy and the right of sanctuary during the later

Middle Ages, so the Church's role in offering protection declined. • Religion was sometimes used as a justification for rebellion and therefore heresy became a crime that

was punished by the state. • The link between religion and political authority strengthened during the Reformation, leading to new

laws to enforce religious conformity. • The Church's role in propaganda and law enforcement increased during the Reformation period as it

was used to remind people of their duty of obedience.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain why there have been changes in the work of the police in the period from c1900 to the

present day. You may use the following in your answer:

• forensic science

• cars

You must also use information of your own.

The use of fingerprinting and DNA has made it easier to identify criminals, even after they had

left the scene of the crime.

• The study of ballistics has made it possible to identify individual guns used in crimes. • Cars were used to commit crimes or escape afterwards and therefore police cars were needed

to catch criminals. • New crimes have been defined, for example motor crimes such as speeding or driving under

the influence of alcohol. • Computers were used to commit crimes and therefore the police had to develop their own use of computers to combat such crime. • The development of computers allowed police to record and analyse evidence in order to make

links and solve crimes.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: 4 Explain why there were new definitions of crimes against authority in the years c1000-c1700.

You may use the following in your answer:

• poaching

• heresy

You must also use information of your own.

Poaching was defined as a crime against authority during the medieval period because it was

a challenge to the authority of the landowners. • Heresy was defined as a crime against authority because new religious ideas were challenging

the authority of the Church. • William I was king only because he had invaded and conquered England; he defined new

crimes against authority, such as the Forest Laws, as a way of reinforcing his authority. • Crimes against authority challenged the social hierarchy, so the Treason Act, 1351 extended the definition of treason by distinguishing between high treason (disloyalty to the king) and

petty treason (murder of a master or a husband). • During the sixteenth century, fear of rising unemployment and possible crime or political

unrest led to vagabondage being defined as a crime. • During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the context of religious changes and political

unrest led to witchcraft being defined as a crime.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain why there were changes in the prison system in the period c1700-c1900.

You may use the following in your answer:

• John Howard

• hard labour

You must also use information of your own.

Growing demand for alternatives to corporal and capital punishment meant that prisons were no

longer used just for debtors or to hold prisoners before trial. • The influence of John Howard's views on the purpose of prisons, suggesting that prisoners be given work to do to rehabilitate them and make them able to support themselves after prison rather than

use prisons simply for retribution. • The influence of Elizabeth Fry, who wanted better conditions for women and for them to receive

religious instruction and learn a trade to help them reform. • The influence of Fry's recommendations that prisoners be segregated to end sexual abuse and also to

prevent petty criminals being taught new crimes by experienced criminals.

• The emphasis on reform rather than retribution led to the introduction of the separate system. • The cost of the separate system led to a return to the emphasis on deterrence and punishment, with

the use of hard labour.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present: Explain why new crimes were defined in the period from c1900 to the present day.

You may use the following in your answer:

• driving offences

• race crimes.

You must also use information of your own.

New technology made new antisocial behaviour possible, for example the development of the car

made it possible to speed, drive while influenced by drugs or alcohol, or drive without insurance. • An understanding of the dangers connected to the use of new technology, such as driving too fast,

prompted new laws. • New technology made it possible to commit crimes in new ways, such as credit card theft and

internet fraud, and therefore new laws were passed to define these new crimes. • The large numbers of immigrants from Commonwealth countries and elsewhere during the twentieth

century, led to a multi-ethnic society leading to laws being passed to prevent racial discrimination. • Changing attitudes made certain behaviours unacceptable and prompted changes in legislation, for

example discrimination on the grounds of sex or race.

• Changes in the position of women in society led to new laws against domestic violence.

'The idea of retribution was the main factor affecting methods of punishment during the

medieval period.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.

You may use the following in your answer:

• Wergild

• the stocks

You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points that support the statement may include:

• Wergild was intended to exact retribution as the payment of a fine would punish the offender personally. • Throughout the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods, many punishments, such as the use of the stocks, were intended to inflict physical punishment and public humiliation, satisfying a demand for vengeance against

the criminal. • Different levels of fines, physical pain and humiliation meant that punishment could reflect the severity of

the crime, and that it was appropriate retribution. • The death penalty was used as the ultimate form of retribution, exacting vengeance for severe crimes that

threatened society

Relevant points to counter the statement may include:

• A purpose of Wergild was to compensate the victim's family, based on the social status of the victim. • The idea that retribution was the purpose of punishment was undermined by the change from Wergild to

Botgild, which suggests that fines were used as a way of raising money rather than as retribution. • Deterrence was a key aspect of punishment; physical punishments were carried out in public so that the

pain and humiliation would deter people from committing similar crimes. • One reason for the use of the death penalty was to protect society by removing a criminal at a time when

prison was not used as a punishment.

'In the years c1600-c1900, the use of transportation had a greater impact on crime than

the impact of the Bloody Code did.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.

You may use the following in your answer.

• Australia

• public execution

You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points that support the statement may include: • Transportation to Australia had a huge impact on crime levels because it punished criminals by removing

them from society. • Transportation was a very effective deterrent because there was a big element of the unknown, and the

punishment was feared. • Public execution removed a criminal from society but was not an effective deterrent because many people

treated an execution as an opportunity for a holiday and further crime was often committed. • The Bloody Code had little impact on crime levels because many people saw the increase in capital crimes and harsh punishments, such as whipping, as unfair and the punishment as excessive. Therefore, many

juries refused to convict, or the judge did not use the death penalty.

Relevant points to counter the statement may include: • The Bloody Code greatly increased the number of capital crimes, deterring a wide range of petty crimes in

addition to serious crimes. • Many more people were affected by the Bloody Code and therefore it had a greater impact on crime,

whereas transportation affected a relatively small number of criminals. • Transportation had limited impact on crime because America declared its independence and then Australia

refused to accept more criminals, so its use was ended in 1868. • Transportation was not effective as a deterrent because some people wrote letters saying they were being

well treated and were prospering, especially when there was a gold rush in Australia.

'The role of religion was the main reason why crimes against authority increased in the

years c1500-c1700.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.

You may use the following in your answer:

• religious change

• vagabonds

You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points that support the statement may include: • Some people felt so strongly about the religious changes that they committed treason, for example, the

Gunpowder Plot. • The Reformation meant that more people questioned the authority of the Church and therefore there were

more accusations of heresy. • The Reformation meant that there were several changes in the official religion of the country but some

people refused to accept the monarch's authority as Head of the Church. • The Civil War period was a time of religious instability; accusations of witchcraft were a way of asserting

control.

Relevant points to counter the statement may include: • Vagabondage was seen as a crime against authority because 'masterless men' were not subject to the

normal mechanisms of social control and this increased in times of poverty.

• Economic hardship led to an increase in crimes against authority, such as poaching.

• Political instability in the Tudor and Stuart periods created the opportunity for dynastic challenges. • An increase in popular disturbance occurred as a result of economic and political changes, such as rising

inflation and the Civil War.

'There has been little progress in dealing with the crime of smuggling in the period

c1700-present.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.

You may use the following in your answer.

• public attitudes

• smuggling gangs

You must also use information of your own.

Relevant

The authorities have continued to find it difficult to be effective against smuggling because public attitudes see this as a 'social crime' and want to buy the smuggled goods, which often include luxury items that are

taxed, for example alcohol, tobacco. • The authorities have always found it difficult to deal with smuggling carried out by organised gangs, for

example the Hawkhurst gang or modern gangs, who are well equipped. • It has always been difficult for the authorities to catch those organising the smuggling because smugglers often involve others, for example the use of villagers to unload the cargo or 'mules' to carry drugs, who may

be reluctant to aid the authorities. • The authorities cannot monitor all points of entry into the country; there are many coves where small boats could land their goods undetected and, in the modern period, light aircraft could also land outside an airport

or drop goods undetected.

Relevant points to counter the statement may include: • Public attitudes towards organised smuggling are less supportive in the modern period since human

trafficking or smuggling drugs is seen as unacceptable. • Technology has made the detection of smuggled goods easier, for example the use of airport scanners,

sniffer dogs and thermal scanners. • The attempts to deal with smuggling have become better organised, with liaison between customs officials

and the police and also Interpol. • The use of computers has made it easier for the authorities to share information and to keep records which

can be used to track down smugglers and smuggled goods.

'The attitude of the authorities was the main reason for changes in the use of the death

penalty in the period c1700-present.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.

You may use the following in your answer:

• public executions

• Derek Bentley

You must also use information of your own.

Relevant points that support the statement may include: • The authorities became concerned that public executions were not a deterrent since they were often treated as a holiday and allowed the criminal to be seen as a hero; consequently executions were moved

inside a prison. • Public executions were ended because the authorities became concerned that they were often an

opportunity for more crime or public disorder. • The increasing severity of the Bloody Code meant that judges became reluctant to impose the death

penalty for minor crimes. • More humanitarian attitudes among politicians led to the reduced use of the death penalty, e.g. Peel

reduced the number of capital crimes and, after 1908, under 16s no longer received the death penalty. • In 1999, the death penalty was formally abolished by the British government as an accepted part of the

European Convention on Human Rights.

Relevant points to counter the statement may include: • The cases of Derek Bentley in 1953, and Ruth Ellis in 1955, raised public concerns over the use of the

death penalty because no allowance could be made for the circumstances of the crime. • The emphasis on prison reform by individual humanitarians, such as Elizabeth Fry, led to a greater range

of alternative punishments to be used. • The case of Timothy Evans in 1950 highlighted the fact that mistakes could be made and led to pressure

from the public to review the use of the death penalty.

(Q4 example) Explain why there were changes in the number of capital crimes in the period 1800-2000.

You may use the following in your answer:

- The bloody code

- Derek Bentley

You must also use information of your own

The bloody code -