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Before the towns and cities became built up and overcrowded, a lot of crimes were punishable by death, even less serious ones such as theft or burglary. As the towns grew and more and more people lived in them, the crime rate rose dramatically. People became very angry that criminals were being executed for what they deemed 'petty' crimes. For example, the death sentence could be passed for picking pockets, stealing bread or cutting down a tree. These were the kinds of crime likely to be committed by those in most desperate need.
By the time Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, fewer crimes carried a compulsory death sentence. There were fewer hangings, and sentences for petty crime were getting lighter. In their place other ideas were being tried out.
Another popular method introduced was transportation. By the 19th Century, Britain had begun to build up an Empire. Convicted criminals were sent off to British colonies, like Australia, to serve their sentence. Until 1867, any criminal with a sentence of 7 years or longer could be transported.
Little was known about Australia, and life was considered to be tough there. Conditions for prisoners on the long voyage across were also barbaric, with starvation, disease and death common, so this was meant to deter prisoners from committing serious crimes. When gold was discovered in Australia in 1851 however, this process was swiftly stopped.
Victorians were worried about the rising crime rate: offences went up from about 5,000 per year in 1800 to about 20,000 per year in 1840. They were firm believers in punishment for criminals.
As a result of rapid population growth and the creation of hundreds of new factories across Britain in the 19th Century, many people were forced to move into towns and cities to find work.
These places become overcrowded and filthy and most people were poor and unhappy. More and more people turned to alcohol and crime, with housebreakings, thefts, assaults and robberies with violence common. On some nights in a medium sized town, over 100 people could be arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
The most obvious alternative to death by hanging was a prison sentence. As crime rate soared however, the jails became overcrowded and understaffed. New jails were created to deal with the rise in crime, but even these could not hold anywhere near enough prisoners to halt the rising crime rate.
Other options had to be considered, which did not overpopulate the jails.
Many criminals were given new sentences, such as time spent carrying out hard labour, ranging from 7 days to 7 years. Hard labour meant 'hard' - time was spent carrying out backbreaking tasks such as breaking rocks or working on the docks carrying heavy barrels.
Often the hard labour would serve no purpose. Punishments included the crank machine (a device where prisoner had to turn a crank that pushed paddles through sand in a drum), and shot drill, carrying heavy cannonballs around for no purpose. From 1865 onwards, this became the most common punishment.