Crime in the Industrial Cities

In the Middle Ages most people lived in small communities and were well known to everyone around them. Would they dare steal when they would be easily recognised or shamed by being punished in front of their friends? As towns grew in the late 1700s and early 1800s, there were more people who lived unknown to their neighbours in the bustling streets.

By the early 1800s towns were ideal for thieves By the early 1800s towns were ideal for thieves. There were plenty of victims, plenty of places to hide and the chances of being identified were slim when there was no effective police force. Crime is a particularly urban phenomenon. As cities grew, crime grew and crime rates in cities have usually been far higher than in villages.

Some common city crimes: Pickpocketing Garotting Murder Robbery Drunkenness Assault THEFT - stealing water — high prices by water companies — squalor and inadequate water supplies.

The terrible poverty and the conditions in the slums caused crime and violence. There were parts of most cities where strangers would not dare to go out, especially after dark. Robbery and murder were committed even in the better streets. The old village type of policing was not adequate for towns.  

Some reasons why crimes were committed in the cities: Insufficient food Insufficient shelter Insufficient clothing Loss of self worth and esteem Greater temptations Career of crime may pay better than a normal career Large numbers of poor people roaming the streets

SQUALOR - poor houses without light, air, dark, filthy and without basic amenities.

POVERTY - high rents, unemployment, low-wages, debt which led to crime POVERTY - high rents, unemployment, low-wages, debt which led to crime. Strong link between crime and poverty.

DRINK - close link between alcohol and crime — desperate people want to escape reality.

FEAR - poor and jobless feared isolation and lonely death — involvement in crime led to network of support amongst criminals. Victims of crime also feared “SCUM” who were lazy and had no moral or religious values.

Many people moved to the industrial cities to look for work, but then could not find it. People often had to live in “Slum” houses that were also inhabited by criminals. They turned to drink through despair.

Once the wars with Napoleon finished, many soldiers were also put out of work.

The advent of new machinery also took away the need for traditional crafts and put many people out of work.