Policing in the Industrial Period

In the 18th and 19th centuries, law enforcement became organised, officers were trained and wore a uniform with the aim to catch criminals and, later, prevent crime from taking place.

The Fielding Brothers

Henry and John Fielding were magistrates who tried to improve policing in London.
They worked at Bow Magistrates Court in 1748 and decided that if there were more men on the streets they would be able to reduce crime.

The Bow Street Runners

They established the Bow Street Runners in 1749, a group of men that patrolled the streets of London in the evening.
This was a more organised way of catching criminals but there was no coordination between groups of law enforcement.
The runners introduced a Horse Patrol which virtually eliminated Highway Robbery.
Furthermore, they had a newspaper called the Hue and Cry where they published the names and details of criminals in an attempt to get the public help to catch them.

Robert Peel

Robert Peel was appointed as the Home Secretary in 1822. His main aim was to improve life for people by reducing crime.
He used crime statistics to show fellow politicians that there was a need for a formal police force and persuaded them that it would not be a threat to their freedoms.
Peel was able to use funds from taxation to help pay for the force and rising crime had provided the platform to convince people that there was a genuine need.

Developments in the Metropolitan Police

In 1842, the first Detective Force was established.
- They aimed to gather evidence to solve crimes.
By 1856, it was compulsory for all towns and counties to set up their own police force.
In 1878 the Criminal Investigation Department was established.
- This reorganised the existing detective force.
By 1884 there were 200 separate police forces in Britain employing 39,000 police officers.

1Medieval England, 1000-1500

1.1Changing Definition of Crime in Medieval England

1.1.1Early Medieval Society

1.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

1.2.1Enforcing the Law in Medieval Society

1.2.2Punishments in Medieval England

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Early Medieval Society

1.3Case Studies From 1000-1500

1.3.1The Church

1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Church

1.3.3Grade 9 - Medieval England

2Early Modern England, 1500-1700

2.1Changing Definitions of Crime

2.1.1Early Modern Society

2.1.2Crime in the Early Modern Period

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Early Modern Crime

2.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

2.2.1Punishments in Early Modern Society

2.2.2Law Enforcement in Early Modern Society

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Early Modern Law Enforcement

2.2.4Grade 9 - Early Modern England

2.3Case Studies From 1500-1700

2.3.1Key Individuals

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Case Studies 1500-1700

2.3.3Grade 9 - Case Studies From 1500-1700

318th & 19th Century Britain

3.1Changing Definition of Crime in Industrial Britain

3.1.1Society in Industrial Britain

3.1.2Crime in Industrial Britain

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Crime in Industrial Britain

3.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

3.2.1Punishment in Industrial Society

3.2.2Punishment in Industrial Society 2

3.2.3Policing in the Industrial Period

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Punishment

3.3Case Studies From 1700-1900

3.3.1Changes to the Prison System

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Case Studies From 1700-1900

3.3.3Grade 9 - 18th & 19th Century

4Modern Britain, 1900-Present

4.1Changing Definition of Crime in Modern Britain

4.1.1Society in Modern Britain

4.1.2Crime in Modern Britain

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Crime in Modern Britain

4.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

4.2.1Punishment in Modern Britain

4.2.2Attitudes Towards Punishment

4.2.3Capital Punishment

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Punishment in Modern Britain

4.2.5Grade 9 - Modern Britain

4.3Case Studies 1900-2000

4.3.1Modern Britain Case Studies

4.3.2End of Topic Test - Modern Britain Case Studies

4.3.3Grade 9 - Case Studies 1900-2000

5Whitechapel Local Study

5.1The Geographical Area & Living Conditions

5.1.1Accommodation in Whitechapel

5.1.2Living Conditions

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Whitechapel Local Study

5.2The People of Whitechapel

5.2.1Alcohol & Immigration

5.2.2Prostitution

5.2.3Racial Tensions

5.2.4End of Topic Test - The People of Whitechapel

5.2.5Grade 9 - Whitechapel

5.3Policing in Whitechapel

5.3.1The Police Force in Whitechapel

5.3.2Jack the Ripper

5.3.3Challenges Facing the Police

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Policing in Whitechapel

5.3.5Grade 9 - Policing Whitechapel

Jump to other topics