The Metropolitan police, 1888
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The Police in 1888 were not like the police force we know today. Police men (no women) would wear blue uniforms, carry a wooden baton, shackles (handcuffs) and a whistle to signal for assistance.
There were no police cars or bikes so policemen would walk their 'beat' (the area they patrolled) for hours on end getting to know the local people and hoping to catch criminals in the act. They would have to deal with anything thrown their way and hope that if they needed it backup was near enough to hear their whistle/ rattle. Unless they came across the criminal in the act then it was hard to catch many offenders, one of which was Jack the Ripper. |
POLICE Lines of enquiry...
In order to investigate a crime that had happened police officers had a number of options:
'Door to door' - This meant knocking on as many doors as possible in the area and speaking to people to find anyone who may have seen or heard anything useful (witnesses)
Catching them red-handed - It was often hard to prove if someone had committed a crime, but if an officer caught someone actually in the act of committing the crime it was much easier to get a conviction and send them to prison.
Witnesses - Policemen at the time (1888) relied heavily on people telling them what happened, or who was involved, or why a crime took place, etc. Unfortunately witness statements were often unreliable due to people lying, forgetting key details, or in the East End - being too drunk!
Rewards for information - Policemen relied heavily on local people giving them information, for important crimes they offered cash-rewards for anyone with useful information that led to an arrest.
In the case of Jack the Ripper specifically...
More policemen on the street - To increase their chance of catching him red-handed the Metropolitan police increased the number of policemen they had patrolling in Whitechapel. This was also done to make people feel safer.
Policemen dressed as women - In an attempt to get Jack the Ripper to come to them the Metropolitan police force even dressed some of its male officers as prostitutes to go undercover! (It didn't work)
'Door to door' - This meant knocking on as many doors as possible in the area and speaking to people to find anyone who may have seen or heard anything useful (witnesses)
Catching them red-handed - It was often hard to prove if someone had committed a crime, but if an officer caught someone actually in the act of committing the crime it was much easier to get a conviction and send them to prison.
Witnesses - Policemen at the time (1888) relied heavily on people telling them what happened, or who was involved, or why a crime took place, etc. Unfortunately witness statements were often unreliable due to people lying, forgetting key details, or in the East End - being too drunk!
Rewards for information - Policemen relied heavily on local people giving them information, for important crimes they offered cash-rewards for anyone with useful information that led to an arrest.
In the case of Jack the Ripper specifically...
More policemen on the street - To increase their chance of catching him red-handed the Metropolitan police increased the number of policemen they had patrolling in Whitechapel. This was also done to make people feel safer.
Policemen dressed as women - In an attempt to get Jack the Ripper to come to them the Metropolitan police force even dressed some of its male officers as prostitutes to go undercover! (It didn't work)
Police TruncheonThese simple wooden batons were used to restrain violent suspects, break up fights and hit anyone who warranted it!
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RattleLoud wooden rattles were used to draw attention to the officers and
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