Law enforcement

Law enforcement—upholding the law and bringing suspected offenders to justice—depended on local communities working with the king’s officials. Victims often had to take the first steps towards finding an offender rather than waiting for an official to investigate.

In early modern Britain, c.1500–c.1750, law enforcement still depended heavily on local people. There was no nationwide professional police force. In England, much of the medieval system continued: communities helped catch suspects, constables maintained order, and courts decided cases.