modern crime and punishment 1700 - present

Transportation

Punishment where convicts were sent to America or Australia as forced labour

Bow Street Runners

An early form of police force created by Henry Fielding in the mid-1700s

Fielding Brothers

Set up Bow Street Runners to improve law enforcement

Metropolitan Police Act 1829

Introduced the first professional police force in London

Robert Peel

Home Secretary who created the Metropolitan Police and reformed criminal law

Gaols Act 1823

Improved prison conditions (e.g.

Elizabeth Fry

Prison reformer focused on improving conditions for women and children in prisons

John Howard

Prison reformer who campaigned for better hygiene and reform in gaols

Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868

Ended public executions

Prisons Act 1865

Introduced hard labour and uniformity across prisons

Pentonville Prison (1842)

Model prison with separate system and harsh conditions for reform

Separate System

Prison system keeping inmates in isolation to reflect and reform

Silent System

Later Victorian method where prisoners worked in silence under harsh conditions

End of Transportation 1868

Stopped due to high cost

Criminal Justice Act 1948

Abolished hard labour and introduced probation and rehabilitation

Abolition of Death Penalty 1965

Suspended capital punishment for murder in the UK (permanent 1969)

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Made drug use and possession a criminal offence

Domestic Violence Act 1976

Gave legal protection to victims of domestic abuse

Race Relations Act 1968

Outlawed racial discrimination in housing and employment

Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006

Made it a crime to incite hatred based on race or religion

Equality Act 2010

Combined previous anti-discrimination laws and protected multiple characteristics

Neighbourhood Watch (1982)

Local community groups to help police prevent crime

CCTV and DNA evidence

Modern policing tools used to identify and convict criminals

Cybercrime

New crime type including fraud

People-Trafficking

Modern slavery where people are illegally transported and exploited

Counter-Terrorism Act 2008

Strengthened powers to deal with terrorism

Tolpuddle Martyrs

Group of six agricultural workers from Tolpuddle

Justices of the Peace (JPs)

Local magistrates who presided over courts

Coroners

Officials tasked with investigating suspicious deaths

Sheriff’s Officers

Assistants to the sheriff

Prison Wardens

In charge of the management of prison facilities

Prison Chaplains

Religious leaders assigned to provide spiritual guidance and comfort to prisoners

Bloody Code, Over 200 crimes punishable by death by 1810 – often for petty offences;

Transportation to Australia, Criminals sent overseas instead of execution – used 1787–1868;

Tolpuddle Martyrs (1834), Workers who formed a union – transported, sparked public outcry;

Pentonville Prison (1842), 'Separate system' – prisoners kept in isolation for reform;

Robert Peel, Home Secretary who introduced the first professional police force in 1829;

Metropolitan Police Act (1829), Created London’s first organised police force;

Gaols Act (1823), Introduced by Peel – improved prison conditions and inspection;

County and Borough Police Act (1856), Made local police forces compulsory;

Punishment of Death Act (1832), Reduced number of crimes punishable by death;

Prisons Act (1877), Brought all prisons under government control;

Public executions abolished (1868), Executions moved behind prison walls to reduce public spectacle;

Thief-takers, Private individuals paid to catch criminals before official policing;

Children’s Act (1908), Created separate courts and detention for young offenders;

Derek Bentley case (1953), Hanged despite low mental age – led to growing opposition to death penalty;

Abolition of Death Penalty (1965), Death penalty ended for murder – fully abolished in 1998;

Conscientious objectors (WWI & WWII), Refused to fight – some imprisoned or given non-combat roles;

Homosexuality decriminalised (1967), Legal for over-21s in private – attitudes slowly changed;

Race Relations Act (1968), Banned discrimination in housing and employment;

Misuse of Drugs Act (1971), Made possession and dealing of drugs illegal;

Crime and Disorder Act (1998), Introduced ASBOs and aimed to prevent reoffending;

Criminal Justice Act (2005), Allowed whole-life prison terms – replaced death penalty as strongest punishment;

DNA and fingerprinting, Modern technology used to identify criminals and solve cold cases;

Terrorism Act (2000), Gave police wider powers to deal with suspected terrorists;

Neighbourhood policing, Local police working closely with communities – builds trust and prevents crime;

Growth of cybercrime, New crimes like hacking, online fraud, and identity theft;

Changes in punishment, Focus now on rehabilitation, community service, and prevention;

Rehabilitation, Helping offenders change – e.g. education, probation, therapy;