Crime and census statistics: 1901
Table 6 is based on returns detailed for each year between 1881 and 1900 in Chief Constable Peacock’s 1901 annual return pasted within the Watch Committee minutes.[1] His annual report follows (a now standard formula for C.C reports) discussing crime and establishment matters. Table 6 was presented separately to the Watch Committee and reveals the fall in indictable offences compared to the rise in population/area. It has been edited to highlight the key years for comparison.
By 1881 4,095 indictable crimes were recorded and 780 apprehensions or summons, representing an arrest rate of 19 per cent or nearly one fifth. In the same year 23,232 persons were apprehended or summoned for non-indictable offences with which there is no detection rate as all are detected on reporting - the old saying of ‘the offence is getting caught’ is a basic explanation of this concept. All these offences are within the pre-1885 limits of the city encompassing around 341,000 persons.
By 1891 the population of the extended city had increased to over half a million and yet the recorded indictable crimes dropped 63 per cent to 1,521 or nearly a third of the 1881 total, with a prosecution rate of 22 per cent remaining around a fifth. Non-indictable prosecutions increased by 9 per cent to 25,584 with a decrease in the numbers apprehended (arrested) by 3,853 or 21 per cent but considerably more people were summonsed rather than being arrested, up 6,295 or 133 per cent.
By 1900 the figures are even more remarkable than first appear. The revision of the method of calculation used from 1893 is to include the cases caught within the Summary Jurisdiction Act 1879 which permitted, among other matters, the trial by jury of certain previously summary only offences, which had not been previously included.[2] The main point however is that, this new calculation at first increased the number of indictable crimes recorded but over the decade this declines by a further 42 per cent, whilst the population increased by 8.5 per cent to 548,000. The number of persons apprehended or summonsed for non-indictable offences dropped 21 per cent to 20,268.
The 1900 figures show more persons 'proceeded against' for indictable offences at 1,783 than the 1,705 crimes recorded. This indicates multiple offenders for certain crimes.[3]
Overall the indictable offences recorded within Manchester in the last two decades of the century indicates a reduction of approximately 80% in recorded serious crimes and a 21% decrease in the number of persons prosecuted for less serious offences. However the issue of drunkenness and its impact on police resources and manpower did not decline and there is an increase in arrests for drunkenness is recorded in 1900 and 1901.
[See Table 3 Manchester Police , Establishment and Offences 1865 -1901].
For further analysis of this data, [See Strategy / Domestication].
By 1881 4,095 indictable crimes were recorded and 780 apprehensions or summons, representing an arrest rate of 19 per cent or nearly one fifth. In the same year 23,232 persons were apprehended or summoned for non-indictable offences with which there is no detection rate as all are detected on reporting - the old saying of ‘the offence is getting caught’ is a basic explanation of this concept. All these offences are within the pre-1885 limits of the city encompassing around 341,000 persons.
By 1891 the population of the extended city had increased to over half a million and yet the recorded indictable crimes dropped 63 per cent to 1,521 or nearly a third of the 1881 total, with a prosecution rate of 22 per cent remaining around a fifth. Non-indictable prosecutions increased by 9 per cent to 25,584 with a decrease in the numbers apprehended (arrested) by 3,853 or 21 per cent but considerably more people were summonsed rather than being arrested, up 6,295 or 133 per cent.
By 1900 the figures are even more remarkable than first appear. The revision of the method of calculation used from 1893 is to include the cases caught within the Summary Jurisdiction Act 1879 which permitted, among other matters, the trial by jury of certain previously summary only offences, which had not been previously included.[2] The main point however is that, this new calculation at first increased the number of indictable crimes recorded but over the decade this declines by a further 42 per cent, whilst the population increased by 8.5 per cent to 548,000. The number of persons apprehended or summonsed for non-indictable offences dropped 21 per cent to 20,268.
The 1900 figures show more persons 'proceeded against' for indictable offences at 1,783 than the 1,705 crimes recorded. This indicates multiple offenders for certain crimes.[3]
Overall the indictable offences recorded within Manchester in the last two decades of the century indicates a reduction of approximately 80% in recorded serious crimes and a 21% decrease in the number of persons prosecuted for less serious offences. However the issue of drunkenness and its impact on police resources and manpower did not decline and there is an increase in arrests for drunkenness is recorded in 1900 and 1901.
[See Table 3 Manchester Police , Establishment and Offences 1865 -1901].
For further analysis of this data, [See Strategy / Domestication].
[i] Watch Committee Minutes 24 Jan 1901.
[ii] There is possibly a corresponding reduction in non-indictable summons cases although further research would be needed to clarify this position outside the remit of this work.
[iii] Explained in the opening address of the Chief Constable,s annual report (1902) to the WC.
[ii] There is possibly a corresponding reduction in non-indictable summons cases although further research would be needed to clarify this position outside the remit of this work.
[iii] Explained in the opening address of the Chief Constable,s annual report (1902) to the WC.
