How was crime controlled in medieval times?
The mediaeval period was long, and customs changed a lot from time to time and place to place. As a general rule there were two systems of justice in place: local courts administered by a city under its charter or by the lord of a manor or of a larger area. There was nothing like a modern police force to apprehend criminals, but some places did have watchmen, who could call on the locals for help as needed to arrest suspects. Secondly, for more serious crimes and for appeals, the king’s court existed. This went around the country holding sessions where it happened to be, sometimes under the king in person; sometimes under one of his judges. By modern standards the trials were crude. Stress was laid on the suspect’s reputation. If he was rumoured to be a thief, he was likely to be convicted (give a dog a bad name and hang him). Trial by combat (God will help the right) and by ordeal existed at various times. Punishments were also crude, designed to terrify people into behaving. Hanging
