Crime and punishment in modern Britain, c.1900 - EdexcelNew crimes in the 20th century

Many new crimes have emerged since c.1900 because of changes in public attitudes and the economy, and advances in technology.

Driving offences

The motor car was still a very new invention in 1900. However, by 1930, cars were cheaper and more popular. Until 1935, people could drive a car without a licence. However, after 1935, all drivers needed to pass a test, pay road tax, have insurance and ensure their car was safe to drive.

Car theft has become one of the largest categories of crime. There are many other offences linked to cars, including:

• speeding
• joyriding
• drink driving
• parking without a valid ticket
• failing to stop at traffic lights
• driving without a licence
• not wearing a seat belt
• using a mobile phone while driving

Public attitudes to drinking and driving were fairly lenient until the 1970s, when government advertising began to highlight the dangers. Today, drink driving is widely disapproved of by the general public.

Race-related crime

As modern Britain has become more multicultural, new laws have been needed to ensure that people from minority groups are treated equally and fairly. The 1968 Race Relations Act made it illegal to refuse jobs, housing or public services to people based on their race, ethnic background or country of origin.

Hate crime

The 2003 Criminal Justice Act then increased the possible sentences available for offenders who commit hate crimes - crimes that demonstrate or are motivated by hostility towards victims on the basis of their actual or perceived characteristics. These characteristics now include:

• race
• religion
• disability
• sexual orientation
• transgender identity

This type of crime is often called ‘hate crime’. Hate crimes are motivated by prejudice or hostility and can include, but are not limited to, acts of vandalism, physical assault and harassment.

Decriminalisation of homosexuality

Changing attitudes in society towards homosexuality led to the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised homosexual sex between two men, both over the age of 21, in England and Wales. Further changes to the law took place in the UK the following decades. The age of consent for private homosexual sex acts in the UK was lowered to 16 in 2001, the same as the age of consent for heterosexual people.

Drug-related crime

The 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act made many drugs illegal. The debate about whether some drugs should be legalised continues to the present day. A range of crimes are associated with illegal drug-dealing, including:

• sex-trafficking
• gang-related violence
• theft
• smuggling

Domestic violence

During the 20th century, attitudes towards men’s and women’s roles changed. Women were recognised as more equal in society. New laws made violent and abusive behaviour in relationships a crime.

In 1976 the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act was passed. It allowed victims of domestic abuse protection from their abuser by applying for an injunction. In 1991, for the first time, the law recognised rape in marriage as a crime and the husband could be prosecuted. The law saw further extension in 2014 when use of controls (such as emotional and financial), physical force and threats in a relationship were recognised as crimes.

However, despite these laws, only a minority of victims of domestic abuse and violence in Britain report such crimes due, in many cases, to their isolation or continuing vulnerability as victims. A crime survey for England and Wales in 2020 estimated that approximately 5.5% of adults experienced domestic abuse in the year before the survey.

Abortion

Abortion was a crime in England, Wales and Scotland until 1968, with some exceptions for extreme medical reasons, such as when a mother might die if she went ahead with the pregnancy. Public and government attitudes towards abortion relaxed in the 1960s, which resulted in the passing of the 1967 Abortion Act. This meant that abortion was no longer a crime under two conditions: that doctors agreed that a child would have what they considered to be serious disabilities or if they agreed that continuing with the pregnancy would cause the mother serious physical or mental harm.

In 1968 the legal limit for abortion was 28 weeks. As medical advances and understanding have improved, this time limit has been lowered. An abortion at 28 weeks still needs to be agreed by two independent doctors.