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Capital Punishments and Criminal Law Reform Debate
In the House of Commons debate on June 4 1830 Mr Mackintosh urged a resolution for a inquiry into the criminal law with aims to reduce capital punishments and strengthen secondary penalties while opposing an overhaul akin to the French Napoleonic code. He warned against police state measures, argued for careful amendment rather than sweeping reform, and noted the rarity of executions. The discussion touched on transport to colonies, prison discipline, and broader policing concerns. Members including Mr Buxton Mr Wynn and Mr Mackintosh weighed the balance between punishment severity and civil liberty. The following day June 5 saw Lords and Commons consider Irish taxation and public order measures including alien acts, and motions about the suspension of habeas corpus.