Policing the City: Crime and Legal Authority in London, 1780-1840In Policing the City, Harris seeks to explain the transformation of criminal justice, particularly the transformation of policing, between the 1780s and 1830s in the City of London. As utilitarian legal reformers argued that criminal deterrence ought to be based on certain and rational punishment rather than random execution, they also had to control the discretionary authority of enforcement. This meant in theory and practice the centralization of policing in the 1830s, and the end of local policing, which was seen as corrupt, inefficient, and unsuitable for rational criminal justice. Revolutionary changes in policing began locally, however, in the 1780s. Such local changes preceded and inspired national reforms, and local policing up to the centralizing measures of the 1830s remained dynamic, responsive, and locally accountable right until its demise. Anxiety about policing had as much to do with the social origins of the police as it did about the origins of criminality, and control over the discretionary authority of watchmen and constables played a larger role in criminal justice reform than the nature of crime. The national, metropolitan, and City police reforms of the late 1830s were thus the culmination of a contentious argument over the meanings of justice, efficiency, and order, rather than its beginning. Harris's evidence reveals how what we've come to think of as "modern" policing evolved out of local practice and reflects shifts in wider debates about crime, justice, and discretionary authority. |
Contents
The Crisis Decade 17831793 88333 53 | 38 |
War Revolution and Public Legitimacy 17931815 | 53 |
Expenses of Extra Constables 17851804 | 65 |
Ideology Pragmatism and the Reform of City | 87 |
Watch Act Amounts passed by the Court | 120 |
Commitments and Convictions Nationally | 127 |
Localism Defeated 18271838 | 132 |
Conclusion | 153 |
Bibliography | 189 |
Other editions - View all
Policing the City: Crime & Legal Authority in London, 1780-1840 Andrew T Harris No preview available - 2021 |
Common terms and phrases
Aldersgate Aldgate appointed authority brothels Castle Baynard centralization citizens City leaders City of London City Patrole City policing City’s Colquhoun Common Council Corporation Court of Aldermen Court of Common criminal justice Criminal Law Day and Night Day Patrole decades duties E. P. Thompson early nineteenth century efficiency eighteenth century enforcement England English Criminal Law extra constables February February 11 Finance Gatrell hired House Ibid increase inhabitants January late eighteenth lord mayor magistrates marshalmen Metropolis Minute Book Misc Night Patrole Books Nightly Watch Committee November October officers Old Bailey Papers CC parish Parliament parliamentary passim Patrick Colquhoun persons petition Police Committee police reform present proposed prosecution prostitution protection public order punishment Radzinowicz Rag Fair regulation Report riots served social Street thief-taking thieves tion Treatise University Press vagrants ward constables ward leaders ward policing Wardmote Inquest Watch Act watch system watch-house watchmen