THE NORMANS

After the conquest, the Normans introduced their French system of keeping order as well as modifying the Anglo-Saxon system. William the Conqueror enforced the old system of dividing each town or village into “tithings” or groups of 10 men. These 10 were responsible for each other and one person was elected to represent them at the local courts. This person was the “Tithingman”.

Offences presented at these courts were numerous i.e. small thefts, assaults, nuisances of all sorts and market and trade offences. Similar offences are even today presented at magistrates’ courts. Murder and manslaughter were presented at these courts also, but passed to the King’s Court for hearing - as similar cases are passed to Crown Court today.

It was in early Norman times that the “constable” (police constable) first appeared. This was a high office in Norman society and eventually took over from the “Tithingman”.