History - Crime and Punishment - 18th and 19th century - Smugglers

18th - 19th Century:

Smuggling:

Background

• Massive problem in coastal areas
• Smugglers brought tea, cloth, wine and spirits into the country without paying import tax on them
• The authorities took it very seriously because there was no tax on income so duties were the main source of government income so they were losing out on lots of money
• Smugglers were often ruthless and not afraid to use violence to keep their cargo or escape capture

Government response

• 1748: The Duke of Richmond was asked to deal with the gangs.
• 35 were hanged and 10 died in jail but this was nowhere near enough as there were at least 20,000 smugglers
• It countinued to grow,…