The document summarizes law and order in Britain during the Age of Reform. Crime increased as cities grew and unemployment rose, centered in slum areas called "rookeries". Night watchmen and parish constables policed rural areas. In 1829, Sir Robert Peel established the Metropolitan Police Force to police London's streets. Crime rates decreased with expanded police forces by 1900. Prison reform efforts, led by Elizabeth Fry, sought to improve conditions for female prisoners at Newgate prison through schooling, work programs, and inspections. "Jack the Ripper" murdered five prostitutes in London in 1888 but was never identified.

1. 5.5 Law and order
The Age of Reform

2. Words to learn
Terminology Definition
Rookeries Victorian city slums often inhabited by criminals
Metropolitan police Britain’s first professional police force, established
Constables First rank in British Police Force
Philanthropist A person who works or gives money to improve the lives of
others

3. Why the crime cases increase?
• As towns and cities filled
with inhabitants who were
strangers to one another,
crime became more
common
• Industrial change also
caused periodic waves of
unemployment leading to
riots and lawlessnes
• In 1812, Spencer Perceval
became Br first and Prime
Minister to be assassinated ,
shot dead by a dispossesed
businessman

4. What is rookery?
• Crime was a growing public
concern in early 19th century
Britain.
• In 1843, it was reported in the
House of Commons that the
loss of money from robbery
and theft in Liverpool had
totaled 700 000 £ every year
• Criminal activities centered at
rookeries, the slum housing
area.
• It made up of dark, narrow
alleyways and dilapidated
buildings

5. What is it like living in rookery?
• According to Charles
Dickens, a London rookery
containing men and women
in every variety of scanty
(cheaply),
• and dirty apparel (dirty
clothes) ,
• lounging (sit and stand in
lazy way),
• scolding, drinking, smoking,
• squabbling (noises from
quarreling),
• fighting and swearing.

6. Police in Village - Nightwatchmen
• Throughout history,
urbanization has been
associated with increases in
crime and social disorder.
Britain in the 19th century
was no different.
• In Br rural towns and
villages, small communities
were largely able to police
themselves by appointing
night watchmen.
• They patrolling at night and
sometimes watch over
villagers crops from thieves.

7. Parish Constable
• also known as a petty constable,
was a law enforcement officer,
usually unpaid and part-time,
serving a parish.
• prevent crime within their parish;
beggars , disbanding rioters, and
take the criminal to courts
• Other duties (non safety)- Parish
constables were expected to
monitor trading
standards and pubs, catch rats,
restrain loose animals, light signal
beacons, provide local lodging and
transport for the military,
perform building control,
attend trials, and collect the parish
rates(tax).

8. Metropolitan Police Force
• Sir Robert Peel was the son
of a Lancashire cotton
manufacturer and a brilliant
politician.
• At the age of 34 he was
appointed Home Secretary.
• In 1829, Peel passed the
Metropolitan Police Act and
enforce 1000 full time
policemen in London street.

9. Metropolitan police and its duties
• Metropolitan Police Force had to
be over 5 foot 7 inches
• They were given blue tailcoat, belt,
and metal lined top hat
• Their tailcoats had stiff collars
preventing officers from being
strangled.
• Not to be seen as military forces,
Robert Peel suggested them not to
have fire arm instead they have
truncheons
• They were also known as bobbies
or peelers in honour of their
founder Robert Peel

10. Crimes rates, incline or decline?
• In 1856, police forces were made
mandatory across England
• This caused resentment and riots
in some towns as they saw police
as government tyranny (cruel
govt rule).
• By 1900. there were more than
47 000 policemen working across
243 separate forces
• It was proven that crime rates
had decreased from 20 to 15
arrest in every 1000 population
• While the murder rate fall from
1.7 to 1 case for every 100 000
population

11. Notorious prison in Newgate
• In 1813, the Quaker philantropist
called Elizabeth Fry visited Newgate
prison (one of the most notorious
prison in London)
• She was outraged for what she
witnessed : 300 female prisoners
were cooking, washing and living in
just 2 cells
• Poorly clothed, slept on the floor line
with straws
• Some gave birth in prison and looking
after their babies, naked and crying in
cold
• The following day, she returned with
some food and clothes for them

12. Prison reform – Elizabeth Fry
• Fry encouraged Newgate prison
to establish a school for children
in prison and to keep female
prisoners occupied with
productive works such as sewing
and knitting
• She travelled the country to
promote prison reform.
• In 1818, parliament hold several
investigation in prisons and she
was invited to present evidence
in parliament and to be the first
woman in parliament to do so

13. Gaols Act 1823
• Robert Peel was inspired by
Elizabeth Fry and in 1823, he passed
Gaols Act
• This act introduced regular
inspections , visit from doctors,
schools for prison children and
payment for jailers (before, jailers
were paid by the jailers
themselves!)
• Fry died in 1845 known and
admired throughout Europe as a
visionary social reformer
• She became and inspiration for
suffrage woman who demand vote
for MPs

14. Jack the ripper
• Between August and November
1888, 5 prostitutes were
murdered brutally
disembowelled in the east
London
• After the 2 murder, Scotland
yard (police force) received
letter claimed from the
murdered himself mocking the
police
• The letter ended in “good luck,
your truly, Jack the Ripper”
• The murdered was never
arrested and Jack the Ripper’s
identity is still debated until
today

15. Jack the Ripper’s victim

16. The End