This thesis wishes to show the influence newspapers, literature and other factors had on the perception of the state of crime in the Victorian period in England. The belief that the state of crime was worsening and that the number of offences committed was on the rise was characteristic for that period. This belief was influenced by newspapers and literature which, through sensetionalist articles and the inclusion of crime in their narratives, painted a picture of the Victorian society as crime-ridden. To this were also added the negative view of the lower social classes and inaccurate statistics. In reality, the number of offences committed in the Victorian period was on the decline, and England was safer as it was in the previous centuries. This was due to the creation of the police and the improvement of social circumstances. The presence of the police ensured a more effective way of dealing with crime, as well as providing a deterring effect on potential lawbreakers. New social laws and reforms enabled the poor and working classes to have decent living and working conditions, which deterred many from a (potential) criminal life.
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