Crime c1700-1900

Growth of Smuggling

- Growth of large smuggler gangs like the Hawkhurst Gang named against the Kent village from 1735 to 1749. Leaders of the Hawkhurst Gang were hanged from 1748 to 1749.

-  In 18 Century more goods like cloth were taxed and activity increased

- People benefitted from cheaper goods and didn't disagree with it

Growth of Highway Robbery

- Lonely rural areas and roads made coaches slow down

- Handguns were easier to obtain and quicker to load and fire

- More people were travelling in their own independent coaches

- They could hide and sell goods in taverns

Growth of Poaching

- A rise in gangs operating on a large scale. Poaching raids prompted harsher anti-poaching laws

- The 1723 Black Act made poaching a capital offence and made it illegal to blacken your face as a form of disguise.

- 1736 a new Witchcraft Act was passed to decriminalise witchcraft. 

- People didn't believe in witches and witchcraft and those who claimed to be 'witches' were now confident tricksters trying to take advantage of others. 

-Gave less severe punishments of fines and imprisonments than people accused of witchcraft previously

The Tolpuddle Martyrs

- Shows how the government dealt with threats to authority

- In Feb 1834 in the village Tolpuddle, a farm labourer called George Loveless was arrested

-He and five others including his brother were accused of administering an illegal oath' (originally used for the Navy

-Real motive of their arrest was to stop political activities. They formed an early version of a trade union. And wanted to protest about their low wages of 6 shillings a week when the average was 19 shillings a week

-They were sentenced to 7 years' transportation to Australia with harsh conditions. Meant as a deterrent.

- After news spread across the country mass protests were organised in support of them. With a petition of 200,000 signatures. 4 years later the gov pardoned them.