Mary Siddon (

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

1783) was an English

thief Theft (, cognate to ) is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal short ...

. In 1783, Siddon was convicted of stealing a pork ham. She was sentenced to be 'severely and privately whipped, in the presence of females only.' This was considered to be a turning-point in English attitudes to public

violence Violence is characterized as the use of physical force by humans to cause harm to other living beings, or property, such as pain, injury, disablement, death, damage and destruction. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines violence a ...

and a marker of the beginning of a more professionalised approach to

policing The police are a constituted body of people empowered by a state with the aim of enforcing the law and protecting the public order as well as the public itself. This commonly includes ensuring the safety, health, and possessions of citizen ...

and punishment.

References

* ''The London Mob: Violence and Disorder in 18th-century England'' by Robert Shoemaker * ''Mob mentalities'', Robert Shoemanker, p. 53,

BBC History Magazine ''BBC History'' is a British magazine devoted to both British and world history, and aimed at readers of all levels of knowledge and interest. There are thirteen issues a year, one each month and a Christmas special. The magazine is published, ...

, October 2004 {{DEFAULTSORT:Siddon, Mary Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown 18th-century English criminals British people convicted of theft 18th-century English women 18th-century English people