history - crime and punishment - modern era c1900-present

Abortion change in crime?

• 1967 abortion act decriminalised abprtion in some scenarios

• 1968 act set maximum weeks for abpetion at 28

• Protests in the 60’s helped to change attitudes

• Health concerns and worries about illegal abortions helped drive change

Change in crime - driving offences

• 1925 - illegal to drink drive

• 1967 - maximum blood alcohol concentration set

• Due to more cars on road

• Government campaigns helped highlight dangers of drink driving and speeding helped influence society

Changes in crime - racism and race crime

• 1968 race relations act made refusing jobs, housing, public services illegal based on race

• 2006 racial and religious hatred act

• 1950’s many people from commonwealth countries came to England for work, led to a more diverse society

• Growing immigration in UK led to new laws needed

Changes in crime - homosexuality and homophobia

• 1967 - decriminalised for men over 21

• 2005 criminal justice act gave harsher scentences for homophobia based attacks

• Growing liberal attitudes towards sex and sexual revolution in 60’s led to a change in attitude

Changes in crim - drugs

• 1971 - misuse of drugs act

• Still a social crime

• Some people believe it should be a personal choice

• Some believe it helps tackle drug related crimes like human trafficking and gang violence

Change in crime - people trafficking

• not new crime, people had been sold for slaves and prostitution for centuries

• 2015 modern slavery act

• Controlled by crimnal gangs etc

Change to crime - domestic violence

• 1991 - rape wishing marriage act, possible to persecute men for roping wives

• 1976 - domestic violence act

• Rare within marriage illegal

• Coercive control is recognised as form of abuse under 2014 change to law

• Campaign for votes for women, women contribution in both world wars and 1960’s campaign for equal rights for woman helped influence society into making these change s

Problems with police in 1900?

• every area had won police force, 200 separate forces, led to lack of communication and different standards

• No central records and forces rarely shared information or work together, lead to lack of communication, no record of criminals from place to place

• Police officers spend majority of day ‘walking the beat’, led to routes being recognised and people avoiding police, prevent crimes happening in moment didn’t take statements

• police traveled on foot and had whistle to call for help led to, taking more time to get places as on foot and whistle not always heard

Changes to police force?

• women recruited to police force in 1920’s mostly worded with children and female victims or criminals

• Greater emphasis on training

• 1947 the police training academy was set up to train new recruits, previously officers expected to learn on the job

• Increased use of science and technology, more specialised departments and roles for officers, move

• Move toward crime prevention

Changes to help prevent crime?

• mass video surveillance, companies can analyse large amounts of footage and forecast acts of terror I’m and other crime

• CCTV, people less likely to commit crimes if they know there being watches

• Breathalyzers and speed cameras, make it possible to catch criminals

• Biometric screening, use unique body characteristics like finger print, eyes etc to restrict access to date

Changes to help solve crime

• forensic science, carry out highly detailed investigations of crime scenes and bodies look for finger prints etc

• Improved computer software, can rapidly analyse video data to identify criminals

• Data management, used to store and share information about crime, like DNA databases

• Improved communication, recording and sharing information directly on crime scenes