Crime in 19th Century Britain

Paper Summary:

This paper studies the levels in crime during the nineteenth century, and the possible causes and reasons for this. It looks at the introduction of the Police Constable into British society, their role and the effects they had upon the crime trends. It also includes other factors that may have affected the crime rate, such as poverty, the increase in population and the increased convictions of crimes.

From the Paper:

"The passing of the Metropolitan Police Act in 1829, gave the Home Secretary, Robert Peel, the chance to establish a brand new police force. Two commissioners were introduced to run the force, Colonel Sir Charles Rowan and Richard Mayne, which would consist of 3,000 policemen to serve London, excluding the City of London. To be run similar to a military unit, with military discipline, the force was hoped to be a band of men strong, fit and of high qualities. But it was a very different story in reality; those picked were unfit, ragged, ill-disciplined, young and drunk. The main reason for this was due to the low pay and so the only people attracted to the job were young men who had no families or responsibilities and for half of the time would be drunk. The job would be used as a temporary fill in job, before a person could get into another position. The low rate of pay was the biggest reason for not being able to recruit the best possible person; even by 1872 the problems had not improved. PC Green, a member of the Birmingham police force said "The rate of wages is such that I would never have accepted it had I not been driven to it. The performance of police duties deprives me of both my comfort and my liberty, and when I put on my uniform I become the scoff of every low blackguard in the town." "

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