Crime and Punishment key dates

Murdrum Fine

Forest Laws

Corners introduced

Pope Innocent III abolishes Trial by Ordeal

Justices of the Peace extended to all areas

Statute of Labourers

Heresy Laws – punishment = burning at the stake

Church Courts abolished – effective end to Benefit of the Clergy & Sanctuary

Witchcraft Act ,becomes a capital crime

Witchcraft Act – death penalty for even minor witchcraft

Gunpowder Plot

Transportation to America begins

Matthew Hopkins active

Habeas Corpus

Bloody code begins with 50 crimes punishable by death

Taxes increase and mounted customs officers

The Black Act

Witchcraft is no longer a capital crime

Fielding Brothers set up the Bow Street Runners

John Howard publishes recommendations for prison reform

Bow street runners paid by government

Transportation to Australia begins

222 crimes punishable by death

Elizabeth Fry visiting Newgate Prison

Gaolers to be paid from local rates

Gaols Act - Prisoners held in categories

The Black act repealed

The Metropolitan Police force

Tolpuddle martyrs

Gaols act- government inspection of prisons introduced

Prisons act - separate system introduced

Creation of Detective division in MET

Pentonville Prison Opens

Police act - compulsory to have a police force

End of Transportation

Only murder and treason capital punishments

Prisons act - silent system

Last Public execution

Sir Edmund Henderson = chief commissioner of MET

Artisans Dwelling Act

Trial of the Detectives

Fenian bombs at Parliament and Tower of London

Sir Charles Warren = Chief Commissioner

Whitechapel murders

Blood types discovered

Pointless labour (crank/treadmill) ends in prisons

Military Service Act

Police training college created

Execution of Timothy Evans

Execution of Derek Bentley

Execution of Ruth Ellis

Homicide Act – limits death penalty to 5 categories of murde

Death penalty abolished (permanent in 1969)

Sexual Offences Act – homosexuality decriminalised

Parole introduced

Abortion Act – decriminalised (in certain circumstances)

Race Relations Act

Community Service Orders introduced

Police National Computer

Neighbourhood Watch

First conviction using DNA

Racial and Religious Hatred Act – spreading racial/religious hatred = a crime

London Terror Attacks