Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Law Enforcement in Eighteenth & Nineteenth-Century Britain (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Law Enforcement in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Britain - Timeline & Summary
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, crime increased dramatically. This created the need for improved law enforcement. The public was initially concerned that police forces would limit their freedom. This changed when it became clear that the government’s laissez-faire approach to crime was not working. People began to accept that the government had a role to play in protecting them from criminals. This ultimately led to police forces being set up all over the country. |
Continuity in Policing in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Britain
The following roles remained in place in 18th and 19th-century policing:
Still patrolled cities on foot at night
Kept an eye on private property
The image below is of the most well-known watchman, Jonathan Wild. He famously operated on both sides of the law in London. He called himself the Thief-Taker General in 1718, but was hanged for his own crimes in 1725
Dealt with petty and minor crimes
Soldiers
Dealt with more serious crimes
Put down riots, large protests and rebellions
The government also used the army to deal with large smuggling gangs
Changes to Policing: The Bow Street Runners, 1749
The Fielding brothers
The Fielding brothers were magistrates
They wanted to put more men on the streets of London to deter crime
They were among the first to bring an organised policing system to London
Key actions of the Fielding brothers
The Bow Street Runners
The Bow Street Runners were established to tackle London’s huge crime wave
Alongside patrolling London’s streets to deter crime, they also
Tracked down criminals and stolen property
Shared information on crimes and suspects with others
This marked the beginning of a crime intelligence network
Found evidence to bring criminals to justice
This has led some historians to call them the first modern ‘detectives’
They were initially volunteers
They then charged fees and collected rewards for their work
Eventually, the government decided to pay them directly
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Most students know about the role of the Fielding brothers in establishing the Bow Street Runners, but few mention their work in other areas. Remember to revise the contributions they made outside of the Bow Street Runners, especially for essay questions
The 1856 Police Act
The 1856 Police Act made professional police forces compulsory nationwide
The aim of this was to deter crime across the country
What responsibilities did the 1856 Police Act give to the government and police officers?
The government’s responsibilities | Police officers’ responsibilities |
|---|---|
To fund all forces | To patrol the streets, to keep law and order and prevent crime |
To employ officials to inspect all forces regularly | To investigate and arrest criminals |
The Establishment of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), 1878
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was part of the Metropolitan Police
Its establishment separated the police into
Ordinary policeman, who patrolled the streets of London
Detectives, who investigated serious crimes by gathering evidence
This mostly came from interviews, witness statements and tips from informants
Worked Example
Describe one feature of the work of the Fielding brothers
2 marks
Answers:
The Fielding brothers published news about crimes in the Hue and Cry newspaper (1). Magistrates and gaolers shared this newspaper with others when they travelled (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
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