Hue and Cry

April 4, 2023

Recently, the Punjab government has issued a “hue and cry notice” against the fugitive pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh.
Its origins lie in England’s 13th and 14th-century policing system.
The ‘Statute of Winchester’ signed by King Edward I in 1285 mandated that anyone who witnessed a crime not only had to report it but take up a cry to alert the police.
These notices are governed by specific rules and procedures and are used sparingly to stress the seriousness of the matter and create panic among the public.
A ‘hue and cry’ notice is issued by the state or central authorities when it comes to any fugitive. A hue and cry notice is the process of seeking the help of the public in nabbing a criminal. This means that the public can tip off the police to help them catch a fugitive.
A ‘hue and cry’ notice against a fugitive contains a description of the criminal and the last known location, as well as a tip line number that the public might call regarding the information on the fugitive or if they have seen him somewhere.
While the term ‘hue and cry’ may have diminished in usage in contemporary times, it remains a legal procedure that must be followed to alert other states about fugitives.