Medieval law enforcement

In Anglo-Saxon times communities were largely responsible for policing themselves. The growth of towns during the later Middle Ages saw attitudes to crime prevention changing.

Although residents were still largely responsible for maintaining the peace in their communities, there was a move towards appointing officials to control crime in their neighbourhoods.

Law enforcement in the Middle Ages was very different to modern policing.

Night watchmen

Law and order in Medieval towns was largely enforced by beadles, salaried parish officials, or petty constables, locals appointed by various bodies and usually made up of higher class citizens, as well as tradesmen, craftsmen and shopkeepers. Constables were unpaid and served for a year at a time.

From 1252 beadles and constables would organise night watch teams made up of local residents. Just as in Anglo-Saxon times, if a hue and cry was raised, everyone had to join in.

Night watchmen had to guard city gates, light street lamps and watch out for fires – a major concern in those days, when most dwellings were constructed from wood and thatch.

Much of central Cambridge was destroyed by two separate fires, in 1174 and 1385.


A half-timbered house in central Cambridge. In the Middle Ages fires were a major concern .

 

The curfew bell

Medieval towns had curfews in place to maintain law and order. A bell would ring at about 8pm, warning residents (and inn-keepers) to finish working and stay indoors.

Anyone caught outdoors – or “abroad” – after curfew had to be prepared to justify their actions to the night watch crew.

Justices of the Peace

The Justice of the Peace Act of 1361 introduced the concept of centrally-administrated justice in England and ended the system of compulsory, community-based law enforcement.

Justices of the Peace (JPs) were chosen by monarchs, rather than local residents, and had judicial and administrative powers. They tended to be affluent, powerful members of their communities.

In 1361 a JP was allowed expenses of 4/- per day – a considerable sum in those days.

Medieval Coroners

During the Middle Ages, coroners had numerous legal duties that went beyond investigating sudden, violent or suspicious deaths.

In some parts of the country the coroner was responsible for investigating all felonies – crimes that carried the death penalty. Capital crimes included murder, manslaughter and the theft of any item worth a shilling or more.

The coroner had to record details of all deaths he investigated on his rolls. The process was so cumbersome and convoluted that it often resulted in errors. As a result witnesses and other people involved in the investigation were often fined.

This led to cases of people hiding dead bodies to avoid an inquest, writes Professor Bernard Knight.

“Some people would even drag a corpse by night to another village or hundred, so that they would not be burdened with the problem. Even where no guilt lay, to be involved in a death, even a sudden, natural one, caused endless trouble and usually financial loss.” [Britannia.com]

Sources

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