Catching the Criminal - Victorian Crime and Punishment

Catching the Criminal

Early Policemen known as 'Peelers'

Most prosecutions were not carried out by the police, but by private individuals, normally the victims of the crime. Anyone who was thought to have committed a crime, was taken to the parish constable or magistrate by the person who caught them. Even in places where there was a proper police force, most prosecutions were still started by private citizens.

In 1885, the legal historian F.W. Maitland wrote, 'To speak of the English system as one of PRIVATE prosecutions is misleading. It is we who have PUBLIC prosecutions, for any one of the public may prosecute; abroad they have STATE prosecutions or OFFICIAL prosecutions.'

Further pages

Making an Arrest in the Early 19th Century Until the mid-late 1800's, the responsibility for reporting crime and identifying and catching the...
Types of Offences The decision to commit a defendant to a court for trial was made by a magistrate. To which court...
Statements and Indictments Prior to any charge being brought, the victim, the witness and the accused would provide statements...
Remand or Bail While they were waiting for trial, prisoners could be remanded in custody (kept in the gaol) or...
The Development of a Police Force The first policemen, known as 'Peelers' or 'Bobbies', were set up in London in 1829 by Robert Peel,...
Arrest Police Regulations Rule 28 outlines how the police should be prepared, take details and arrest.