Where is the police?
How come in the Game of Thrones world, people can kill or kidnap others with almost no consequences, like isn't there a police force to investigate these things?
shareThere were no police in the middle ages, the first police forces were created in the 19th century.
Before that, there was just whatever justice your feudal overlord was willing to dish out, or feuds, duelling, or rough justice.
What do you mean no police, then what stopped people from killing each other or stealing, scamming, raping, etc.???
shareAs Otter already mentioned, unlike modern times there were no governmental forces like police. In a feudal system your local warlord or other patriarch catered for your security. And in return you had to follow his ruling. Apart from that, do people automatically want to steal or kill each other?
shareKnowing that your feudal overlord would have you hanged for stealing anything, or fishing in the river without his permission, or looking at him funny would stop you. Or, if you happened to live in Bolton country, he could have you skinned alive or play The Most Dangerous Game for you as a punishment, or for shits and giggles!
Because in a borderline lawless society, there were no consequences for your feudal overlord if he abused his right to mete out justice, or for your neighbor if he killed you for stealing his sheep and draped your skin over his fence as a warning. Westeros and Essos were societies where people obeyed the law out of fear, not because of the legal system.
But how would the local lord even know it was you that killed, stole, etc. if there was no police to investigate who actually committed the crime?
shareThe local lord had knights and other thugs to keep the peace, and gamekeepers to kill poachers. And your neighbor could go to the local lord and bring a complaint against you, and if the local lord could blow it off or have you burned at the stake just because of something someone said, whatever he liked.
Believe me, the police and a legal system were a HUGE improvement.