Du cri à la patrouille : l’ordre public dans les communes italiennes (1250-1350) [From the cry to the patrol : public order in the Italian communes (1250-1350)]

In the towns of communal Italy, the "hue and cry" ensured law and order from 12th to the middle of 13th c. When the citizens heard the cry "help me!", they had to run, help the victims and capture the criminals. But the "hue and cry" ("accorruomo", in Italian) could cause fights and riots, which is the reason why, by the end of the Duecento, communal governments created police forces which were made available to the podestà and some other urban officers. These forces could be composed by some hundred men in major towns. The "policemen" could patrol the streets to prevent crimes: this was a major change in public order. But no commune had enough forces to patrol the whole town and the countryside. Therefore, the "accorruomo" survived and supported the actions of the podestà's men until the 15th c.