Encyclopaedia Britannica > Volume 8, DIA-England

ENGLAND.
801
itistics.
XV.— Crimes in England and Wales.
Crimes of violence have greatly decreased in England
during the last half century. Highway robbery, once so
prevalent, is now almost unknown; and though murders
are occasionally perpetrated, they are not numerous com¬
pared with the amount of population. Latterly, however,
the crime of arson has made a great and alarming pro¬
gress ; and, from the facility with which it may be com¬
mitted, the difficulty of detection, and the destruction of
property and life it is almost sure to occasion, no means
should be left untried which may tend to arrest its progress.
There would seem, from the accounts laid before parlia¬
ment, to be of late years a very great increase in the of- Statistics,
fences against property. We believe, however, that much v'—
of this increase is apparent only, resulting from the esta¬
blishment of a police force in most great towns, and from
the consequent commitment and punishment of numerous
culprits who were formerly allowed to escape. The law of
England as to capital punishments has recently been much
modified ; and various opinions are entertained as to what
will be the effect of the change. It has, however, been
too recently effected, to allow of any inferences being
drawn as to its practical operation. The subjoined tables
give a very complete view of the state of crime in England
and Wales during the seven years ending with 1832.
I.—Number of Persons Committed, Convicted, Sentenced, Acquitted, fyc. in England and Wales.
In the Years
Committed for Trial.
Viz. Males
Females
Total.
Convicted and Sentenced.
To death
Transportation for life
35 years....
• 28 years...
21 years....
W— 14 years....
i- 10 years...,
9 years
7 years
5 years
4 years
3 years
2years and
above 1
1826.
Number
of
Persons.
13,472
2,692
1827.
’Number
of
Persons.
16,164
Imprisonment,
and severally
to be whip¬
ped, fined, ^
kept to hard
labour, &c....
Whipping, and fine
year....
1 year and
above 6
months
6 months 1
and un- r
der j
Total convicted
acquitted
no bills found, and not)
prosecuted J
Total.
Of whom were executed
1,203
133
185
1,945
’ll
297
1,204
5,819
310
11,107
3,271
1,786
16,164
57
15,154
2,770
17,924
1,529
198
’ 1
1
293
2,232
1
11
296
1,433
6,251
321
1828.
Number
of
Persons.
13,832
2,732
16,564
1,165
317
508
1
2,046
1
11
243
1,117
'5,991
322
12,567
3,407
1,950
17,942
73
11,723
3,169
1,672
16,564
58
1829.
Number
of
Persons.
15,556
3,119
18,675
1,385
396
1
'”2
691
2,285
7
235
1,277
6,646
336
1830.
Number
of
Persons.
1831.
Number
of
Persons.
15,135
2,971
18,107
13,261
3,614
1,800
18,675
74
1,397
405
2
659
*1
2,169
1
209
1,220
6,458
284
12,805
3,470
1,832
18,107
46
16,600
3,047
19,647
1832.
Number
of
Persons.
17,486
3,343
20,829
1,601
334
1
1
638
I
2,340
5
226
1,311
7,012
360
13,830
3,723
2,094
19,647
52
1,449
546
764
1
2,603
3
230
1,304
7,644
402
14,947
3,716
2,166
20,829
54
Total
Number
in the
Seven
Years.
107,235
20,675
127,910
9,729
2,330
1
6
' 4
3.736
3
1
15,620
1
1
49
1.736
8,866
45,821
2,334
90,240
24,370
13,300
127,910
414
5 1
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