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What caused particular concern in the C18th?
Smuggling, poaching and highway robbery
What was highway robbery?
Stopping a coach and robbing the passengers
Why did highway robbery increase in the C18th?
> Increased wealth. There were no banks so people carried large amounts of cash around.
> No police force. Local constables would not bother to search/track highway men across counties.
> Roads had improved but not enough to allow coaches to accelerate and escape.
> Demobbed soldiers became highway men because they couldn't find work
Why was highway robbery a problem for the authorities?
> Disrupted communication and trade between towns
> Committed their crime in broad daylight on the Kings highway
> Guns and horses were cheap to obtain
> Areas around London became very dangerous e.g Hounslow Health was ideal for highway robbers, with woods to disappear into it.
> Authorities saw it as a large problem and large fines were offered for information.
Why did highway robbery decline in the C18th?
> The Bloody Code discouraged highway robbery> Banks opened so travellers no longer carried large amounts of cash
> High rewards encouraged informers
> Mounted patrols were set up around London - highway robbers were more likely to be caught
What was smuggling?
Bringing goods into the country without paying import tax on them.
What were the most common smuggled items?
Tobacco and tea because the tax was so high
Why was smuggling a problem for the authorities?
> Less tax for the government
> Many people saw it as a 'victimless crime' - it helped to keep down prices. They did not regard it as a crime.
> Local communities often protected smugglers and hid smuggled items
> Smugglers formed large, violent gangs like the Hawkhurst gang. Witnesses and magistrates were often too afraid to give evidence or convict.
What was poaching?
Illegally catching birds, animals and fish on another persons land.
Why were laws against poaching very unpopular?
Because many people living in the C18th were poor - especially when bad harvests increased
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