Until recently, piracy was all about counterfeit goods!
Look up the word ‘piracy’ on any Internet search engine and you will be presented with lots of references to the production of forged DVDs or computer software or such like. But now, with the situation concerning the Somali Pirates escalating, we have reverted back to the meaning of the word and piracy is all about stealing boats and goods on the high seas.
However, did you know that until as recently as July 1998, piracy with violence was still a Capital Offence in England, which meant it carried the death penalty? It is hard to believe that as recently as that it was still technically possible to receive the death penalty for this crime.
There is a great deal of information to be found on the internet concerning the Death Penalty in Britain. I think a key date was probably 1808. This was the time when Samuel Romilly introduced reforms to abolish the penalty for around 200 crimes of a less serious nature. Up until then, it was possible to be hung for such ridiculous offences as “being in the company of gypsies for one month” or “vagrancy for a soldier or sailor”. Romilly really did set things in motion to clean up what became know as the “Bloody Code” in England and Wales.
However, it was not until Sidney Silverman’s private members bill of 1965 that the death penalty was suspended for five years, to eventually be abolished for almost all crimes in 1969. The last two people to be executed in England were Peter Allen and Gwynne Evans who were hung on 13th August 1964. The 13th really was an unlucky date for these to men.
The final twist in the story of the death penalty was the Criminal Justice Bill of 31-7-98 which removed the death penalty for High Treason and Piracy with Violence. However, with the Somali situation being on people’s minds at the moment maybe there will be calls for the reintroduction of this ultimate deterrent.
For those of you who are keen to write historical fiction, and need to have accuracy of detail for the penalties for particular crimes, then do search the Internet and discover the wealth of information on the subject. I am still searching, but it would appear that the youngest person to be hanged in England, for the simple act of stealing it would appear, was a 7-year-old child. What will your research turn up?
However, did you know that until as recently as July 1998, piracy with violence was still a Capital Offence in England, which meant it carried the death penalty? It is hard to believe that as recently as that it was still technically possible to receive the death penalty for this crime.
There is a great deal of information to be found on the internet concerning the Death Penalty in Britain. I think a key date was probably 1808. This was the time when Samuel Romilly introduced reforms to abolish the penalty for around 200 crimes of a less serious nature. Up until then, it was possible to be hung for such ridiculous offences as “being in the company of gypsies for one month” or “vagrancy for a soldier or sailor”. Romilly really did set things in motion to clean up what became know as the “Bloody Code” in England and Wales.
However, it was not until Sidney Silverman’s private members bill of 1965 that the death penalty was suspended for five years, to eventually be abolished for almost all crimes in 1969. The last two people to be executed in England were Peter Allen and Gwynne Evans who were hung on 13th August 1964. The 13th really was an unlucky date for these to men.
The final twist in the story of the death penalty was the Criminal Justice Bill of 31-7-98 which removed the death penalty for High Treason and Piracy with Violence. However, with the Somali situation being on people’s minds at the moment maybe there will be calls for the reintroduction of this ultimate deterrent.
For those of you who are keen to write historical fiction, and need to have accuracy of detail for the penalties for particular crimes, then do search the Internet and discover the wealth of information on the subject. I am still searching, but it would appear that the youngest person to be hanged in England, for the simple act of stealing it would appear, was a 7-year-old child. What will your research turn up?
Labels: capital punishment, Piracy, writing
posted by David at
13:14
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