The Evolution of Criminal Law as Viewed by a Constable
| Author | W. J. Moore |
| Date | 01 April 1930 |
| Published date | 01 April 1930 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X3000300210 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
The
Evolution
of
Criminal
Law
as
Viewed by a Constable
By W. J. MOORE
Detective
Dept.,
Belfast
Harbour
Constabulary
THE history of the origin and development of our criminal
code is an interesting and instructive phase of British
legislation. A survey of criminal law procedure carries us
indeed from one stage of civilization to another.
The
changes
brought about during the last few hundred years, and more
especially during the period of the 19th century, in relation to
criminal enactments is a striking example of the wonderful
progress we have made in the science of government. Before
the development of any of those branches of science which in
modem times have given us a better understanding of ourselves
and our surroundings, it was hardly to be expected that our
predecessors could deal with crime in anything like a humane
or intelligent manner.
It
was, indeed, rather fortunate that
the problem of maintaining law and order, in the earlier stages
of English history, was a comparatively simple matter. Before
the advent of what is known in our economic text-books as the
,Industrial Revolution,' the population was dispersed over
quiet country districts; and the condition of things, being
vastly different from that created after the rise of great com-
mercial cities, required no very elaborate code of criminal law.
It
has, of course, to be admitted that a certain amount of crime
is always associated with every form of human society all
through history; and our forefathers had their own crude
methods of dealing with the wrong-doers which existed in their
day and generation.
It
is regrettable, however, to think of the notions which
prevailed in those far off days in the matter of crime and its
punishment.
There
was great cruelty applied in an atrocious
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