Early law and order

Using police to prevent crime and capture lawbreakers is a relatively modern development. Until the Police Act was passed in 1856, Cambridgeshire didn’t have a proper police force. Through the ages, communities across Britain had other means of dealing with crime and suspected criminals.

During the Anglo-Saxon period, from 410 to 1066, crime prevention was very much seen as being a community responsibility. Most people lived in small settlements and knew their neighbours. Villages and neighbourhoods were policed in a number of ways, under a system referred to as the frankpledge.

Tithing

The first type of law enforcement was through tithing, a system requiring families to be accountable for each other’s conduct.

Each community was split into groups containing 10 males over the age of 12 (a tithing), headed by a tithingman. Every member of the tithing was responsible for others in his group.

If someone broke the law, the others would have to get him to court or face punishment. A common penalty for people failing to report the alleged wrong-doer was having to pay compensation to the crime victim.

A tithing was also part of a group of 10 tithings, known as a hundred and headed by a hundredman, who served as a judge and administrator.

Burgum de Grentebrige –the stronghold of Grentebrige, the old name for Cambridge - was one example of a hundred existing in Cambridgeshire during the Anglo-Saxon period, according to the Doomsday Book.

Each hundred had its own court, known as the Hundred Court. In turn each hundred made up a shire, supervised by a shire-reeve, or sheriff.


The site of the original bridge that gave Cambridge, or Grentebrige, its name.
The settlement of Grentebrige was a "hundred", recorded in the Doomsday Book.

Hue and cry

Another form of law enforcement existed through the hue and cry – a system compelling anyone who was a victim or witness of crime to raise the alarm.

The wronged person would call on everyone within earshot to pursue the suspect. Anyone failing to do so could be punished.

Posse comitatus

Each county had a sheriff, appointed by the king. The most serious crimes were brought before the sheriff, who could raise a posse comitatus – a group of local men chosen to chase a lawbreaker. It was compulsory to obey if you were called to join.

The posse comitatus was a type of temporary, unpaid police force.

Changing attitudes to law and order

The growth of towns during the later Middle Ages saw attitudes to crime prevention and enforcement changing.

Although residents were still largely responsible for policing their communities, there was a move towards appointing officials to maintain the peace.

Sources

DirectGov