Trends in Crime During the Modern Period

What is the modern period of crime and punishment?

Modern Britain is considered to be the period from around 1900 to the present. There have been more changes to crime and punishment during this time than any previous period.

What was the impact of war on modern attitudes to crime and punishment?

The 20th century witnessed two world wars (1914-1918 and 1939-1945) which changed attitudes to society, crime and punishment.

• ❖ The Holocaust influenced society to be more tolerant of minorities, and to question whether a government should be allowed to execute its citizens.
• ❖ The First and Second World Wars led to the public accepting a greater degree of control and interference in their lives.

How has growing wealth changed attitudes to modern crime and punishment?

By the end of the 20th century standards of living were better than in the early 1900s in 3 key ways:

• ❖ People lived in better houses, ate better food and, under the welfare state, government support like health care and unemployment relief provided protection for the most vulnerable members of society.
• ❖ However, the gap between the richest and poorest has continued to grow.
• ❖ The rise in both living standards and inequality has changed the nature of, and attitudes to, crime.

How has multiculturalism affected modern attitudes to crime?

The second half of the 20th century saw Britain become a more multicultural society in 4 main ways:

• ❖ In the 1950s, many people from Commonwealth countries (former British Empire colonies) moved to Britain to work.
• ❖ Britain joined what would later become the European Union in 1973 and enjoyed freedom of movement - the ability to travel, work and live without restrictions - across Europe.
• ❖ Over the next 50 years millions of Europeans would make Britain their home.
• ❖ This changed the makeup of society and raised issues around discrimination as a crime.

How has the changing position of women affected modern attitudes to crime?

During the 20th century, attitudes towards gender and crime changed in 4 key ways:

• ❖ In 19th century society, the common view was that men were the dominant partners in relationships. If they were violent towards their wives or partners, that was their personal business.
• ❖ The campaigns for women's votes at the beginning of the century led to some women gaining the vote in 1918, and all gaining the vote in 1928.
• ❖ Women's contribution to the First and Second World Wars enlarged their role in society.
• ❖ The 1960s campaigns for equal rights for women raised issues around inequality in the law.

What are criminal trials like in the modern period?

Trials and courts saw 4 main important changes after 1971:

• ❖ The court system remained largely unchanged until the introduction of the Courts Act in 1971.
• ❖ This abolished the quarterly sessions and assizes.
• ❖ Now most criminal cases are heard in a magistrates' court.
• ❖ The most serious crimes are referred to Crown Court (which replaced visiting royal judges) and trials are heard before a jury.