Liverpool [electronic resource] : Gangs, Vices and Packet Rats: 19th Century Crime and Punishment

Now world famous for football and music, in the nineteenth century Liverpool had a very different reputation. One of the greatest ports in the world, and Europe's western gateway to the Atlantic, Liverpool's emerging wreath and prosperity brought with it a huge influx of crime to the streets, and a new breed of men whose job it was to try to enforce law and order on the increasingly unruly city streets. Much of Liverpool's crime was based around the docks and the sea. Crimps and runners waited to lure the homecoming seamen to dens of immorality where over 2,000 known prostitutes and rot-gut spirits would separate them from their money and their liberty. Tough, hardcore sailors – known as Packet Rats – caused mayhem at sea while in the stinking alleys around Scotland Road, the High Rip gang wielded vicious power. Liverpool in the nineteenth century was a place full of stories of assault, robbery and murder as well as poachers, footpads and highwaymen who preyed on the unwary. Against this this tide of lawlessness stood men like Constable Casey of the Liverpool police, who disarmed two pistol wielding terrorists, and his police colleagues who not only dealt with the day to day crimes but more unusual crimes such as bombs in the town hall and redcoats rioting in the street. Liverpool was, without doubt, a challenging and exciting place to live and work in the nineteenth century as the battle for the streets between the criminals and lawmen raged on. Now world famous for football and music, in the nineteenth century Liverpool had a very different reputation. One of the greatest ports in the world, and Europe's western gateway to the Atlantic, Liverpool's emerging wealth and prosperity brought with it a huge influx of crime to the streets, and a new breed of men whose job it was to try to enforce law and order on the increasingly unruly city streets. Much of Liverpool's crime was based around the docks and the sea. Crimps and runners waited to lure the homecoming seamen to dens of immorality where over 2,000 known prostitutes and rot-gut spirits would separate them from their money and their liberty. Tough, hardcore sailors - known as Packet Rats - caused mayhem at sea while in the stinking alleys around Scotland Road the High Rip gang wielded vicious power. Liverpool in the nineteenth century was a place full of stories of assault, robbery and murder as well as poachers, footpads and highwaymen who preyed on the unwary.Against this tide of lawlessness stood men like Constable Casey of the Liverpool police, who disarmed two pistol wielding terrorists, and his police colleagues who not only dealt with the day to day crimes but more unusual crimes such as bombs in the town hall and redcoats rioting in the streets. Liverpool was, without doubt, a challenging and exciting place to live and work in the nineteenth century as the battle for the streets between the criminals and the lawmen raged on. "Liverpool in the nineteenth century was plagued with assault, robbery and murder as the unscrupulous preyed on the unwary. And as trade expanded and money flooded in, the battle between the criminals and the lawmen became a major part of Liverpool's fascinating history. Crimps and runners waited to lure the homecoming seamen to vice dens full of prostitutes and gut-rot spirits. Tough, hard-core sailors - the Pack Rats - caused mayhem at sea while in the stinking alleys around Scotland Road, gangs wielded vicious power. For the criminals, nineteenth century Liverpool was a place of endless opportunity. And for the new breed of lawmen, stopping the tidal wave of crime took immense bravery as they did whatever they had to do to clean up the Second City of the British Empire."--Back cover INTRODUCTORY OFFER PRICE Now world famous for football and music, in the nineteenth century Liverpool had a very different reputation. One of the greatest ports in the world, and Europe's western gateway to the Atlantic, Liverpool's emerging wreath and prosperity brought with it a huge influx of crime to the streets, and a new breed of men whose job it was to try to enforce law and order on the increasingly unruly city streets. Much of Liverpool's crime was based around the docks and the sea. Crimps and runners waited to lure the homecoming seamen to dens of immorality where over 2,000 kno Cover; Title; Dedication; Acknowledgements; Contents; Quote; Author's Note; Introduction; Chapter 1 A Very Brief History of Liverpool; Chapter 2 The Early Years; Chapter 3 The Liverpool Police; Chapter 4 The Strange Affairs of Ann Crellin; Chapter 5 Packet Rats; Chapter 6 The Leveson Street Murders; Chapter 7 Blue and Red; Chapter 8 Contrast: Criminal and Lawman; Chapter 9 Death in the Family; Chapter 10 Prostitution; Chapter 11 Cracksmen and Thieves; Chapter 12 Corner Men and High Rippers; Chapter 13 Training Ship Trouble; Chapter 14 The Irish have Arrived Now world famous for football and music, in the nineteenth century Liverpool had a very different reputation. One of the greatest ports in the world, and Europe's western gateway to the Atlantic, Liverpool's emerging wealth and prosperity brought with it a huge influx of crime to the streets, and a new breed of men whose job it was to try to enforce law and otder on the increasingly unruly city streets. This book explores the gangs, vice, and Packet Rats of 19th-century Liverpool Chapter 15 The Dangerous CountrysideChapter 16 Liverpool Women; Chapter 17 On the Railway; Chapter 18 Jack Ashore; Chapter 19 Redcross Street Murder; Epilogue; Select Bibliography; By the Same Author; Copyright