Early eighteenth century England saw the criminal element bargaining with magistrates and lawyers to be released or receive lenient sentences. Neither party could be trusted and the situation grew worse. Enter famed author Henry Fielding, who had a strong social conscience and served as a magistrate. In addition to this treatise, he began a register of convicted criminals, and recruited six full-time, paid constables - known colloquially as "The Bow Street Runners" and hailed as the forerunners of the modern police force.

Latest episodes of the podcast Enquiry Into The Causes Of The Late Increase Of Robbers by Henry Fielding

• Introduction
• Section 1 - Of too frequent and expensive diversions among the lower kind of people
• Section 2 - Of drunkenness, a second consequence of luxury among the vulgar
• Section 3 - Of gaming among the vulgar; a third consequence of their luxury
• section 4 - Of the laws that relate to the provision of the poor
• Section 4 - Of the laws that relate to the provision of the poor part 2
• Section 4 - Of the laws that relate to the provision of the poor part 3
• Section 5 - Of the punishment of receivers of stolen goods
• Section 6 - Of laws relating to vagabonds
• Section 7 - Of apprehending the persons of felons
• Section 8 - Of the difficulties which attend prosecutions
• Section 9 - Of the trial and conviction of felons
• Section 10 - Of the encouragement given to robbers by frequent pardons
• Section 11 - Of the manner of execution