The Introduction of the Death Penalty?

[dippy_dumbo]

I really need to know when the death penalty was introduced in the UK. I know it was suspended in 1965, and later abolished in 1969, but also need to know when it was introduced.

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance x

[Chessman]

It was never introduced, the death penalty has always been here, as a legal punishment for certain crimes, the only time we've been without it, as you say, when it was abolished in'69', therefore, never not having it, pre '69', it obviously. was never introduced, or re-introduced.

[jno]

I'm not sure that's right. Here are the earliest English laws, from the time of King Aethelbert of Kent, around 600 (they seem to be codification of earlier laws rather than passing of new ones). They notably don't include the death penalty, just impose a graded scale of fines/compensation, even for murder.

I don't know when the earliest instance of a law imposing the death penalty was, though.

[mrspswayze]

Do you not perhaps mean Public Executions as opposed to the death penalty?

[dippy_dumbo]

I definitely mean the death penalty.

[shaneystar]

Wikepedia has a good article here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_U nited_Kingdom
But it doesn' t give actual dates.Just says 5th century for hanging.

[Chessman]

Thanks jno and shaneystar, I stand corrected, never to old to learn.

[maxi29]

The death penalty for murder was abolished in 1969 but the penalty for high treason remained on the statute books until 1997 when it was finally abolished for good. In theory, James Hewitt could have executed for his affair with Diana - although it was highly unlikely.

[Quizmonster]

The answer to your question, Dumbo, depends on exactly what you mean when you refer to the "United Kingdom". This term developed in the 18th century after the official union of England and Scotland in 1707 - whose actual crowns had been linked since 1603 - and the addition of Ireland. The death penalty was certainly on the statute books at that time, so - until abolition - it had existed as long as the UK had.
If you are simply referring to the British land-mass, as opposed to just England, we know that the Romans applied the death penalty for a variety of crimes...just look at the New Testament...as have most powers throughout history. They ruled the bulk of Britain for about 500 years from around 54 BC, so that penalty must have been used here prior to the 5th century.
Basically, I'd say that Chessman was correct in saying the death penalty has "always" been here until its final abolition.

We know that the Romans applied the death penalty for a variety of crimes...just look at the New Testament...as have most powers throughout history. They controlled most of Britain for about 500 years from around 54 BC, so that penalty must have been used here prior to the 5th century.

[Octavius]

Yes there is a lot to consider. If you mean when did the "death penalty" become law, then it has probably been answered above. However, generally speaking you could consider that someone chosen from an ancient tribe to be a sacrifice in the name of a god, although ritualistic, had effectively been given a death penalty. It is also known that tribal britons would have executed members of their own tribes (as well as others of course) for various reasons and it is quite likely that this would have been decided by tribal leaders or by council, if not by war.

[Octavius]

Slightly more wider than the UK which you refer, but perhaps still a useful resource:

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=15&did=410#EarlyDeathPenaltyLaws

[dippy_dumbo]

Well I did get myself in a bit of pickled confuzzledness with all these answers, but thankyou to everyone who answered, been a great help! :o)