Frankpledge system hue and cry9/19/2023 Maintaining law and order depends on some form of policing. In London there were also two provost-marshals whose job including arresting vagrants and maintaining order on the highways round the capital. In towns, but also in some villages, watchmen patrolled the streets at night. The constables had to use their own initiative and make regular presentments (reports) to the court. He relied on his petty constables, operating in town and village, for his information. The constable had to report to JPs on the state of roads and on public houses. The person appointed constable could pay someone to do the job for him and this became widespread in the sixteenth century and meant that, in some places, almost permanent ‘professionals’ were at work. Appointed for between three and ten years, the constable faced a heavy fine if he refused to serve. Constables were appointed by Quarter Sessions and became the operational assistant to the justices. Their judicial role developed later in addition to their primary role as peacekeepers. In 1326, justices of the peace were first appointed to assist the sheriff in controlling the county. Watchmen patrolled at night and helped protect against robberies, disturbances and fire reporting to the area constable. In the thirteenth century, a watch system was developed to protect property in larger towns and cities. At county level, the shire reeve, a royal official whose role evolved into that of sheriff, was responsible for public order in his area and soon began to pursue and apprehend criminals as part of his duties. Ten tithings were grouped into a hundred and the hundredman, who later became the parish constable, dealt with more serious breaches of the law. The leader was called a tithingman and he was expected to raise the hue and cry to assemble his followers when the community was threatened and pursue suspected offenders. This pledge system was based around tithings, groups of ten families entrusted with policing minor problems such as disturbances, fire, wild animals and other threats. The medieval system of policing was based on community action where individuals were expected to aid neighbours and protect their villages from crime.
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