London has always had more than its fair share of criminals. Crime has been a permanent part of London life and medieval records contain many references to murders, fights, forgery and vagrancy. As the capital, it was the obvious centre for conspiracies, riots and revolts; while its wealth and relative anonymity made it a magnet for vagrants, thieves, robbers and gangs of criminals from the entire kingdom, Southwark, with its brothels and bear-baiting pits, was notorious for crime and lawlessness. In the 18th century some six thousand shops were selling cheap gin and thousands of neglected children turned to crime to survive; while in the next century saw a metropolis with 6,000 brothels and 80,000 prostitutes, not to mention the Fenian bombing campaigns by Irish terrorists!
The theme of this fascinating new book could be 'nothing really changes'--for riots, murders, fraud, burglary, robbery, bombings and forgery are still a part of London life. The author provides a well-researched and splendidly illustrated account of criminals and crime over the centuries--and of those who spent their lives pursuing them: the police, thief-takers, magistrates and judges.
From the triple tree of Tyburn to the prisons, stocks and hulks of London, he reveals the law in action to combat and to contain crime. He deals with the criminal courts, from the Royal Courts to the Police Courts, and with the evolution of the criminal justice system. Mark Herber's text is sometimes spine-chilling, sometimes sad, but always compelling. His book will be warmly welcomed by a wide range of readers, from historians and lawyers to policemen, prison officers ... and criminals ... not to mention the ordinary resident of the crime-conscious metroplois!
Contents:
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1. The Criminal in Action: Riots, Plots, Murders and Mayhem
Chapter 2. Law and Order: Thieftakers and the Police
Chapter 3. The Police in Action: Riot, Bombings and Anarchy
Chapter 4. The Courts of London: Trials, Defendants and the Judiciary
Chapter 5. Criminal Portraits
Chapter 6. Some Political Trials and Executions
Chapter 7. Victims of Crime
Chapter 8. Executions
Chapter 9. The Hangmen
Chapter 10. The Prisons of London
Chapter 11. Punishment
Bibliography
Index
