- 1747: a robbery and a murder shed a light on London's corrupt and inefficient justice system. Author Henry Fielding does some pro bono work in the courts, but he knows that the whole system needs to be reformed, against much resistance from some..—Scrugulus
- In mid-18th-century London, law enforcement is a shambles. There is no professional police force, and police work is done by unpaid volunteers whose jurisdiction ends at the next borough border. Being unpaid makes some of them susceptible to bribes or incentives, which ruins all of their reputations and means that people do not trust them. This leaves room for private bounty hunters who are after reward money offered. In an age without fingerprints or any other kind of decent proof, an inefficient system of accusations and eye-witnesses helps these bounty hunters to rig the system and put people behind bars no matter if they are guilty or not. ********** The famous writer Henry Fielding is publicly denouncing these inefficiencies, which makes him enemies in the courts and gets him physically attacked by those who profit from the status quo. But thanks to his fame, his education, and his connections, he manoeuvres himself into a position that allows him to strike back. ********** This TV narrative is a work of fiction, but it is based on many historic truths. The situation of law enforcement in London was very much as the story depicts it. And private bounty hunters manipulating the system existed, like the notorious Jonathan Wild (one generation earlier). It is also true that Henry Fielding knew about these problems, and that he was looking for ways to solve them. As chief magistrate he founded the Bow Street Runners, a forerunner of the first professional London police force. And together with his half-brother John he sought to reform police work and the courts. Therefore this fictional account is very close the historical circumstances; and it is effective in conveying the situation at the time, and Fielding's interest, passion, and actions.—Scrugulus
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