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Crime and punishment in modern Britain, c1900 to present
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New technology brought new crimes and new ways of policing. Punishment moved further towards reform.
New and changing crimes
Driving offences (speeding, drink driving) came with the car.
Race crimes were defined by Race Relations Acts from 1965.
Drug crimes grew, for example under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971).
Old crimes took new forms: cybercrime and fraud online; smuggling of drugs and people.
Race crimes were defined by Race Relations Acts from 1965.
Drug crimes grew, for example under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971).
Old crimes took new forms: cybercrime and fraud online; smuggling of drugs and people.
Policing and punishment
Police became more specialised and used science: fingerprints (from 1901), DNA (from the 1980s), CCTV and computers. Neighbourhood Watch began in 1982.
The death penalty for murder was abolished in 1965 (made permanent in 1969).
Prisons changed: open prisons, separate institutions for young offenders, and alternatives such as probation, community service and electronic tagging.
The death penalty for murder was abolished in 1965 (made permanent in 1969).
Prisons changed: open prisons, separate institutions for young offenders, and alternatives such as probation, community service and electronic tagging.
Case studies
Conscientious Objectors (COs): people who refused to fight for moral or religious reasons. After conscription in 1916, COs faced tribunals; many were imprisoned and treated harshly. In the Second World War they were treated more fairly, and many did non-combat work.
Derek Bentley: in 1952 Christopher Craig, aged 16, shot dead PC Sidney Miles during a burglary. Bentley, 19, was already under arrest but was convicted of murder and hanged in 1953. Craig was too young to hang. The case fuelled campaigns to end the death penalty. Bentley's conviction was quashed in 1998.
Derek Bentley: in 1952 Christopher Craig, aged 16, shot dead PC Sidney Miles during a burglary. Bentley, 19, was already under arrest but was convicted of murder and hanged in 1953. Craig was too young to hang. The case fuelled campaigns to end the death penalty. Bentley's conviction was quashed in 1998.
Why was the Derek Bentley case significant?
- Bentley did not fire the shot and was under arrest at the time.
- He was hanged while Craig, who fired, was too young to hang.
- Many saw this as unjust, which strengthened the campaign to abolish the death penalty.
Answer: It made the death penalty look unfair and helped lead to abolition in 1965.
New crimes: driving, race and drug crimes, cybercrime. Specialist policing, fingerprints, DNA, Neighbourhood Watch (1982). Death penalty abolished 1965. Case studies: Conscientious Objectors; Derek Bentley.
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