Resource Pack : Crime, Punishment and the Law

Childrens' Charter

Law and order was very important in Victorian society. As towns and cities grew, so did crime. This was partly because poor conditions forced people to steal, but also because the city provided a cover for criminals. The government responded by building more prisons and creating a police force. Children were punished alongside adults for petty crimes such as stealing a rabbit or a loaf of bread. The punishment for children, unless the crime was serious, was usually a beating or a period of hard labour.

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