<P> The first major changes to be recommended were for unpopular new counties created in 1974 . Three of these had artificially united the areas around rivers / estuaries (Cleveland, Humberside and Avon), and the commission recommended that they be split into four new unitary authorities . This effectively gave a' metropolitan borough - like' status to the cities of Hull, Bristol and Middlesbrough . It also restored the East Riding of Yorkshire as a de facto county . Rutland was reestablished as a unitary authority, thus regaining its cherished' independence' from Leicestershire . The merged county of Hereford & Worcester was restored to Herefordshire (as a unitary authority) and Worcestershire (as a two - tier authority). </P> <P> The only other county to be moved to a wholly unitary system was Berkshire; the county council was abolished and 6 unitary authorities established in its place . In County Durham, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Shropshire, Kent, Essex, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, one or two major towns / cities were established as unitary authorities, with the rest of the county remaining two tier . All other counties were unaffected . </P> <P> Whilst these reforms had removed unpopular new counties, they created a rather haphazard situation, which was for the most part like the old counties & county borough system; but in which areas taken to make the abolished new counties was not returned to the historic county . Thus, for instance, the non-urban unitary authority of, e.g., Cleveland & Redcar was not, administratively, in any county . In recognition of these problems, the Lieutenancies Act 1997 was passed . This firmly separated all local authority areas (whether unitary or two - tier), from the geographical concept of a county as high level spatial unit . The lieutenancies it established became known as ceremonial counties, since they were no longer administrative divisions . The counties represent a compromise between the historic counties and the counties established in 1974 . They are as 1974 except that; north Lincolnshire returned to Lincolnshire and the remainder of Humberside became East Riding of Yorkshire; Bristol is established as a county; the remainder of Avon returned to Somerset and Gloucestershire; Cleveland was split between County Durham and North Yorkshire; Herefordshire and Worcestershire were separated; and Rutland was re-established as a county . </P> <P> The years after 2000 saw further substantial changes, leading to a still more varied (some might say haphazard) system . Various Counties were made into unitary authorities: some by abolition of Districts (e.g. Cornwall, Northumberland), others by geographical division into two or more unitaries (e.g. Bedfordshire). </P>

Who was responsible for upholding the laws in medieval england