Crime in modern Britain
Continuity and change, c1900–present
Continuity: theft is still the most common crime, and crimes against the person, such as assault and murder, continue. Crimes against authority continue too, for example violent protest.
Change: new technology and a changing society have created new ways to commit old crimes, and new laws have created new crimes.
| Old crime | New form |
|---|---|
| Theft | Car crime; , such as online fraud, hacking and identity theft |
| Smuggling | Drugs; and trafficking; alcohol and tobacco to avoid tax |
Remember
Modern crime is often an old crime in a new form: car crime and cyber crime are theft; drug and people smuggling are smuggling.
Key terms
Driving offences
Cars became common in the 20th century. As the number of cars grew, so did deaths and injuries on the roads, and new laws made new crimes:
| Year | Law |
|---|---|
| 1903 | Speed limit of 20 mph |
| 1935 | Driving tests compulsory for new drivers |
| 1967 | The breathalyser introduced, to catch drink-drivers |
| 1983 | Wearing seat belts in the front compulsory |
| 2003 | Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving banned |
Causes: science and technology created cars, and later gave new evidence about the dangers, such as of alcohol. Government responded with new laws, and attitudes changed: drink-driving became socially unacceptable.
Key terms
Race crimes
After the Second World War, many people came to Britain from the Caribbean, South Asia and elsewhere. Many faced racism and discrimination.
- The made it illegal to discriminate in public places on grounds of race, and an offence to stir up racial hatred.
- Later laws extended this. In 1998, crimes motivated by race could be given harsher sentences.
Causes: changing attitudes in society, campaigns against racism, and government action. The murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, and the report into how the police handled it in 1999, increased pressure for change.
Key terms
Drug crimes
In the 19th century, drugs such as opium were legal, and sold in shops.
- The began to control drugs such as opium and cocaine.
- The sorted illegal drugs into classes A, B and C, with the harshest penalties for Class A drugs such as heroin.
Causes: science gave growing evidence of the harm drugs do to health, and the link between drugs and other crime worried the government.
Continuity and change: attitudes are still debated. For example, the class of cannabis has been changed more than once.