Prisons, Crime and Punishment

Punishment:

a) Utilitarian measure to curb and prevent crime: the creation of the Met

• The modern idea of a police force came about in 1829.
• Met was formed in London under the direction of Home Secretary, later PM, Robert Peel.
• Prior to the Met
  • Troops were used to keep order, militias used for local problems.
  • The Penal Code was severe with almost two hundred capital offences and other punishments. Minor offenses had serious punishments.
• The Act of 1829
  • This act was limited to the Metropolitan London area, excluding the City of London and provinces.
    • Being a policeman became a full time occupation.
    • Recruits were carefully trained.
    • Police were only responsible fro detection and prevention of crime.
• Was it efficient?
  • Police forces in the provinces of London were not established until 1856.
  • London's crime rates fell…