Changing law enforcement - Norman and later medieval England
After he became king of England in 1066, William I continued many Anglo-Saxon methods of law enforcement and also added to them. However, laws were now written in French, which disadvantaged Anglo-Saxons.
The local community continued to take responsibility for law enforcement throughout medieval England, but later medieval kings took a greater interest in law enforcement. They introduced new positions that increased the role of the king and local government.
William was also tougher on criminals. He believed anyone who committed a crime was going against the king's peaceThe kingâs duty to maintain law and order so people could go about their lives knowing that the law would be upheld. rather than just the individual victim. He was especially determined to establish royal authority and centralise approaches to crime and punishment as a response to rebellions by Anglo-Saxons.
Law enforcement in Norman England
William I continued the methods of law enforcement that were used effectively in Anglo-Saxon England. Collective responsibility within the community continued to be used to prevent crime and hold criminals to account. The methods included:
- tithingA group of ten male adults. If one member of the ten broke the law, it was the responsibility of the others to catch the culprit and take him to court.
- hue and cryA method of raising the alarm to the rest of the village after a crime had been committed, usually by shouting loudly.
- trial by ordealIf a local jury could not decide the outcome of a crime, then the villagers would turn to God to decide. This was known as judicium dei (by the judgement of God) or trial by ordeal.
However, the role of sheriff and the posseA group of men, over the age of 21, summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace and called upon in an emergency. were introduced by William I after 1066. It was their role to report any law breaking in the parish to the king.
After introducing the feudal systemThe feudal system was a way of organising society into different groups based on their roles. It had the king at the top with all of the control, and the peasants at the bottom doing all of the work. to England, the Normans established manor courts. These met to discuss and punish crimes that took place on the land of the lord of the manor. If the hue and cry failed to catch the criminal, then the local sheriff would be informed. He would gather a group of able-bodied men - a posse - who would go out and hunt for the criminal.
The Normans also introduced trial by combat, which was often used to settle disagreements over money or land. In this type of trial, the accuser and the accused fought until one was killed or unable to fight any more. The loser was then hanged as it was believed that God had judged them to be guilty.
The Normans also introduced Church courts. If a member of the Church was accused of a crime, they were tried in these separate courts. Church courts were more lenient in their judgements than other courts when issuing a punishment. There was no use of capital punishmentPunishment resulting in death. in a Church court.
Law enforcement in medieval England
New positions were added throughout medieval England that increased the role played by the king and local government in law enforcement. There was a move away from law enforcement being the responsibility of just the local community.
| Role | Description |
| Posse | A group of men, organised by the sheriff, to catch a criminal. |
| Royal court | Royal courts were introduced by Henry II in 1163. A royal court was appointed by the king and would travel the country. The most serious cases of crime were heard by a royal court. |
| Coroner | In 1194 Richard I introduced coroners. Their job was to investigate any death that occurred from unnatural causes, where there was no obvious natural explanation, such as illness. A coroner was appointed by the king. |
| Justices of the Peace | From 1195, Richard I appointed some knights to keep the Kingâs Peace in areas where the local community found it difficult to maintain law and order. They were known as âkeepersâ. From 1327, Edward III developed this role into Justices of the Peace (JPs). JPs would meet four times a year to take part in manor courts and enforce the law. JPs were appointed by the king. |
| Parish constable | Parish constables were introduced in 1285 by Edward I. Men in the parish would volunteer for the role. They would be responsible for keeping the peace in their parish during their spare time. |
| Role | Posse |
|---|---|
| Description | A group of men, organised by the sheriff, to catch a criminal. |
| Role | Royal court |
|---|---|
| Description | Royal courts were introduced by Henry II in 1163. A royal court was appointed by the king and would travel the country. The most serious cases of crime were heard by a royal court. |
| Role | Coroner |
|---|---|
| Description | In 1194 Richard I introduced coroners. Their job was to investigate any death that occurred from unnatural causes, where there was no obvious natural explanation, such as illness. A coroner was appointed by the king. |
| Role | Justices of the Peace |
|---|---|
| Description | From 1195, Richard I appointed some knights to keep the Kingâs Peace in areas where the local community found it difficult to maintain law and order. They were known as âkeepersâ. From 1327, Edward III developed this role into Justices of the Peace (JPs). JPs would meet four times a year to take part in manor courts and enforce the law. JPs were appointed by the king. |
| Role | Parish constable |
|---|---|
| Description | Parish constables were introduced in 1285 by Edward I. Men in the parish would volunteer for the role. They would be responsible for keeping the peace in their parish during their spare time. |
More guides on this topic
- Crime and punishment in Britain overview - Edexcel
- Crime and punishment in early modern England, c.1500-c.1700 - Edexcel
- Crime and punishment in 18th- and 19th-century Britain - Edexcel
- Crime and punishment in modern Britain, c.1900 - Edexcel
- Crime and punishment in Whitechapel, c.1870-c.1900 - Edexcel