These are all questions you will think about as you follow the story of crime and punishment from Anglo-Saxon England to the present day:
How are attitudes to crime and punishment shaped?
Who influences the laws?
Why do crime rates go up and down?
How successful are attempts to lower the crime rate?

The focus for learning here is how things change (or not) between and within 4 different time periods.

We will need to know:

THE NATURE OF CRIME i.e. crimes against people, property and authority

METHODS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT i.e. policing and trials

METHODS/PURPOSE OF PUNISHMENTS i.e. retribution; reform; deterrence; removal; compensation

Majority of crime = petty theft

Most serious crimes = those committed against the king/his authority

No police force (sheriffs for serious business!)

Hue & Cry; tithings - eventually a coroner, parish constable

Local juries; trial by ordeal

Courts developed with Shire Courts and Royal Courts/Assizes

Punishments = compensation; increasing corporal punishments through the period

Majority of crime = petty theft

Increasing no. of crimes involving religion; vagabonds also a concern

Most serious crimes = those committed against the king/his authority

No police force
Hue & Cry; parish constable; thief takers

Courts continued to develop

Punishments = harsh corporal and capital punishments

Population explosion

Majority of crime = petty theft

Concern over highway robbery and smuggling

Most serious crimes = those committed against authority

Hue & Cry; no police force until Metropolitan Police in 1829

Punishments = reform became more important; transportation; prison; harsh corporal and capital punishments

Increase in crime
Majority of crime = petty theft

Race crime; smuggling; technology

CID; DNA; Neighbourhood Watch

Reform; YOI; open prisons; community service