Law Enforcement in c1700-c1900

Question 1

What was some continuity in law enforcement?

Answer 1

1. Parish constables- dealt with disorderly, petty criminals
2. Watchmen-organised by parish constables, protect private property
3. Part time soldiers who were used to dealing with rebellions or riots

Question 2

Timeline from 1748-1839

Answer 2

1748- Bow Street Runners
1792- Middlesex Justices Act
1829- Met Police Act
1835- Municipal Corporations Act
1839- Rural Constabulary Act

Question 3

Timeline from 1856-1902:

Answer 3

1856- Police Act every town must have a police force
1869- National Crimes Records established
1878- Criminal Investigations Department CID set up
1902- First conviction using courts using fingerprints

Question 4

What are the Bow Street Runners originally?

Answer 4

1. In 1748 set up by Chief Magistrate Henry Fielding
2. Used a small team of volunteers to attend crime scenes
3. Acknowledged that thief takers needed to be part of law enforcement but reformed

Question 5

How was it change by his brother John Fielding?

Answer 5

1. Took over in 1754
2. At first the Fieldings charged fees for their services and collected rewards from the victims if the convictions were secured
3. By 1785, the BSR were officially paid by the government and were the first modern detective police force

Question 6

Why were the BSR significant?

Answer 6

1. Deter criminals by increasing the chances of them being caught
   2 Organised regular foot and horse patrols by paid constables along major roads
2. They understood the importance of collecting and sharing info with other law enforcers
3. Became a hub for crime intelligence network

Question 7

What did the successes of the BSR lead to ?

Answer 7

1. More detectives set up in Middlesex and Westminster
2. In 1792, the Middlesex Justices Act set up further offices with 6 constables tasked with detecting and arresting suspects

Question 8

Why was there strong opposition to the idea of the consolidated police force?

Answer 8

1. Worried about their personal freedoms and privacy
2. Some doubted it would really make a difference to law and order
3. Opponents would be too expensive to fund

Question 9

Introduction of the Met Police:

Answer 9

1. 1829
2. The Met Police Act gave London a uniformed police force
3. 17 districts in London had its own police division with 4 inspectors and 144 constables
4. More people and more organised
5. Robbie wanted them to be viewed in a positive light so they had blue overcoats to distinguish from the army

Question 10

Why was the pace of change slow from 1829-56?

Answer 10

1. Public was concerned about potential costs
2. No co-operation between different areas
3. Development was optional

Question 11

1835 Municipal Corporations Act:

Answer 11

1. Gave borough councils powers to set up a local police force
2. Only 93 of 171 had done so by 1837

Question 12

1839 Rural Constabulary Act:

Answer 12

1. Allowed the 54 counties to paid police force in the area
2. JPs were given powers to appoint chief constables and employ one constable per 1,000
3. Only 36 counties did so by 1850.

Question 13

1856 Police Act:

Answer 13

1. All areas must now have a police force that was centrally controlled
2. All were inspected by the government officials and were given financial grants if they were efficient

Question 14

CID:

Answer 14

1. In 1842, a regular detective branch was established at Scotland Yard with 16 officers
2. Wore ordinary clothes in ‘plain clothes’
3. In 1878, employed 200 detectives a further 600 added in 1883

Question 15

National Crime Records:

Answer 15

1. 1869
2. Saw the use of technology in policing
3. Telegraph communications different police forces could communicate quickly and effectively