Being British XII

[Kuri]

Okay. I have a quick question. I researched this a bit, but I can't find the answer that satifies me. This makes me wonder why there were house-elves were in the wizarding society. There was slavery practised in the British colonies. This started getting really contested in the 1800s. They worked with links in the slave trade. What I want to know in whether slavery was ever practised in the British Isles. When did they gain their their freedom? What's the history here? Please piece this together.

[AidaLuthien]

Slavery was practiced in Britain, but it was never a very big phenomenon in the Isles itself. It wasn't really economically necessary unlike in say, the US with large cotton plantations. They had poor people to work in the factories at sub-par wages. Um... gah, I should remember this, my boyfriend had a really awful British History class this past year.

The slave trade throughout the British empire was outlawed significantly earlier than the institution of slavery itself. Kinda makes sense when you think about how nasty the slave leg of the triangle trade was and that many people dying in packed compartments on the way to the Americas.

Slavery itself was outlawed throughout the British empire in... I want to say the 1830s. I do know that South Africa got an extension on the final outlaw of slavery by four or five years.

* * *

As for house elves, we're never really told how and when house elves and human wizards and witches came to abide by this contract. It could be much more ancient, it could be more recent. Inverarity's Alexandra Quick series mentions an "ancient compact" which involves several different things.

I don't remember if it's ever explicitly stated anywhere in canon what the international status of house elves is either.

[Kuri]

Posted by Aida

Slavery was practiced in Britain, but it was never a very big phenomenon in the Isles itself. It wasn't really economically necessary unlike in say, the US with large cotton plantations. They had poor people to work in the factories at sub-par wages. Um... gah, I should remember this, my boyfriend had a really awful British History class this past year.

Yes, thank you, your information was very helpful. I have continued my research and have landed on essays and sonnets. I might have written this is my request, and for that it's a stupid error of my ignorance, but I knew slavery wasn't practicised in the Isles. The most helpful that I have spent the wekend reading comes from an athology. The narrative of one Olaudah Equaino (who I had read before under a different name from an American perspective) is quite riveting. I suppose I should have asked about the abolition movement because there's a lot there. Still reading, though, so you never know.

It took me ages to find this thread ... but I'm an idiot.

Any other perspectives on the abolition movement can help. I'm trying to weve this in my head with house-elves.

[Sapphire at Dawn]

I'd research William Wilberforce for slavery. He was the guy behind the abolition of the slave trade. Like Aida said, we never really had the economic necesssity for large number of slaves, but rich households did own them. I think there are two dates of abolition for the British Empire, one that outlawed the trading of slaves, and one that outlawed the owning of them. The first occured in 1807 and the second in 1833. However, slavery in the British Isles goes way, way back before the Romans arrived, and, according to Wikipedia, The Domesday Book recorded that about 10% of the population were slaves.

For post holiday destinations I'd suggest the south of France, or perhaps the Alps or something. I don't really thing there's a typical place for it, but I'd avoid the Costas and places like Ibiza.

Hope that helps!

Sarah x

[msk8]

I want to write a one-shot involving the British equivilent of a policeman (constables?) and I need to know a bit about the ranking and titles and stuff. The idea is that the Auror department works with the british police, but they only know it as a very obscure, well-respected branch of the police that is very hard to get into. as in they're thought of as elite. I need like what rankings would be really high up but not out of actual field work.
thanks in advance

[Sapphire at Dawn]

Well, rankings in the police vary from constabulary to constabulary, especially in the special branches and CID. The general ranking system is this: Police Constable, Sergeant, Inspector, Chief Inspector, Superintendent and then Chief Superintendent. From what I can gather from Wikipedia, the rank that I think would suit your story would be Inspector. Althought they do administritive duties, they still do go out in the field. I suggest perhaps doing some more research into the police force to see exactly what an Inspector does.

I've taken all this info from Wikipedia, I don't really have any first hand knowledge (except from watching The Bill), so if anyone has anything more to add, or contradict what I've said, please go ahead!

Sarah x

[Northumbrian]

The UK has dozens of regional Police forces, at one time they used to be based on the old Counties (eg Somerset Police) these days they are larger with several small forces amalgamated.

I've done a lot of research because I'm writing a story where Auror Potter gets involved with the Muggle Police and I seem to be working on very similar lines to you.

All forces are headed by a "Chief Constable" except the Metropolitan Police which is Headed by a Commissioner (The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis is, I think his title) "The Met" cover London (except for the City of London which is covered by City of London Police) London and the City of London are two different places, it's complicated, but what do you expect from a system of governmet which has evolved over millenia.

The police can be generally split into uniformed officers and detectives. Sarah has given you the ranks up to Chief Superintendant above that, the Met has commanders, everywhere else has Deputy Chief Constables, but that's senior command level.

The Detective branch is called CID (for Criminal Investigation Department and its officers are Detective Constable, Detective Sergeant, etc, they're likey to introduce themselves as DC (or DS or DI etc.) Smith.

Like all organisations, jargon is rife.

The SIO (Senior Investigation Officer) of a MIT (Murder/Major Incident Team) will be a DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) and he'll be tha man in charge.

These days uniformed officers are armed with either CS or pepper spray and a baton. They all where stab vests and carry handcuffs. The uniformed officers below inspector (the bobbies on the beat) all show a number on an apaulette (they call it a "collar number") this identifies them, and the police station they work from. Our police DO NOT CARRY GUNS (sorry for the capitals, but i've read a couple of fanfics where guns are fired).

If you want a policeman with a gun you'll need sommeone to report a firearms incident, in which case at least one (usually as many as possible) ARV (Armed Response Vehicle) will attend. When I say that our police have no guns, that's not true, the Specialist Firearms Officers (who drive around in the ARV's waiting to be called in) have lots of guns and they do not mess about.

That's pretty much the basics, so far as I know there are only two non-regional forces:
The British Transport police, who are responsible for the rail network and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary who are responsible for all Nuclear facilities. (I've heard rumours that the CNC DO carry guns, but I'm not certain).

Crime sceme investigation and forensic work is carried out by SOCO's (Scene of Crime Officers).

Scottish Law is different to the rest of the UK, but the ranks are the same.

Forces are either Police "The Metropolitan Police" or Constabulary "Durham Constabulary" again, there seems to be no reason for this other than history.

Need any more?

N

[msk8]

Thank you very much Northumbrium and Sarah. I think that is all I need for now, but I will come back if I need more. Or... what're the ranks right underneath inspector? I want my POV character to be one or two down.

Edit: Erm...... Right. Sorry. Thank you, Northumbrium.

[Northumbrian]

As Sarah said, lowest ranking are Constables and Detective Constables, then Sergeants and Detective Sergeants, then Inspectors and Detective Inspectors.

N

[Apollonious]

Hello everyone.

I've been rereading the discussion on breakfast for a drabble I'm writing, and I've settled on kedgeree for the main dish. I'm wondering though, is kedgeree the kind of thing you'd have with a side of fresh fruit?

Also, what fruits are common to eat at breakfast?

Thanks so much!