The Industrial period saw new crimes emerging in Britain such as smuggling and unionism. Smuggling was one of the most widespread crimes. The Tolpuddle Martyrs were a group of agricultural workers who organised a workers’ union to protect wages and working conditions. Authorities felt that these emerging crimes posed a threat to society.

In some ways Smugglers were more of a threat to authorities. Smuggling was a crime from the 1700s to 1900s. They would bring tea, cloth, wine and spirit into the country without paying any import tax. Smuggling carried death penalty under the Bloody Code. People would become smugglers because they found it exciting, and also earned six or seven times around the average wage.
This meant that it was a threat