 |
|
|
THE LATEST PROGRAMME |
|
|
|
|
|
Deborah Bull investigates the origins of current laws and practices. Discover how esoteric matters offer a mine of useless information for dinner parties, as well as a fascinating insight into the state of British society as reflected by its legal system.
Audio will be available for each programme after the broadcast.
Find out about the sources used in making the programme.
|
PROGRAMME 1: The Birth of Negligence
 In 1348 ferryman was taken to court for drowning a mare belonging to a passenger on his craft. This case laid the ground rules for developing the concept of ‘Negligence’. Law in Order will trace how our laws of negligence developed to the present day via another strange case; the snail in the bottle of ginger ale. How we can stop negligent crimes before they happen and who should be ultimately responsible?
PROGRAMME 2: The First Fast Track Law
 In the 14th Century life was simple. If a tradesman sold you hair restorer that didn’t work all you had to do was go to you local Pie Powder Court for some instant justice. The Pie Powder Court never lost their status, so could they be revived today and what powers would they have?
PROGRAMME 3: A Case of Nationality
 In the Middle ages the concept of Nationality was simple, if you were born in England you were English. The case of Rex vs. Philippe de Beauvais (1321) was instrumental in changing that concept. But today the laws of nationality are being quietly changed again. So where do you have to be born the be a British Citizen today?
PROGRAMME 4: The Cable Street Legacy
 The Cable Street Riot in 1932 helped change the laws on how we may protest in the street by being the instrument that put an end to the Riot Act. However, the 1361 Justice of the Peace Act is still on the statute books, but how effective is it today and what powers to the police have now the Riot Act is no longer Law?
PROGRAMME 5: Thornton V Ashford, a case of Double Jeopardy
 Double Jeopardy could return to the English courts. It has not been possible to try someone twice for the same crime twice for 800 years. However, in 1817 Abrahan Thornton of Castle Bromwich was taken to court not once but twice for the same murder. What happened and are there lessons to be learned today?
|
|
RELATED LINKS |
|
|
Internet Medieval Legal History Sourcebook
English Legal History Materials
The Stationary Office - containing all current Acts of Parliament
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audio Help
|
|
|
|
|
DON'T MISS |
|
|
Thursday 9.00-9.45am, rpt 9.30-10.00pm. Melvyn Bragg explores the history of ideas.
Listen again online or download the latest programme as an mp3 file.
|
|
|
|
USEFUL LINKS |
|
|
|
|
BBC History
This Sceptred Isle
|
|
|
PRESENTER |
|
|
 |
| Deborah Bull |
|
Deborah Bull was born in Derby and grew up in Kent and Lincolnshire. She studied dance from the age of seven. Joining The Royal Ballet in 1981 she was promoted through the ranks and gained principal status in 1992.
She has danced a wide range of work throughout the repertoire. In June 2001, the Royal Opera House Director Tony Hall appointed Deborah Bull to the new post of Artistic Director of the Linbury Studio Theatre and Clore Studio Upstairs
In May 1998 she was appointed to the Arts Council of England.
She has made a number of programmes for BBC TV. She has also made a number of programmes for BBC TV and contributes regularly to BBC Radio 4. She recently presented the series Breaking the Law, which examined the more obscure areas of Britain's legal history.
Deborah Bull received a CBE in the 1999 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Visit Deborah Bull's website.
|
|
|
|
to programme 1: The Birth of Negligence