Investigative Policing and the Whitechapel Murders (Edexcel GCSE History)

Had Policing Methods Improved in the Nineteenth Century? - Summary

Aspects of policing improved in the nineteenth century. The development of the Metropolitan Police in 1829 led to advancements in methods of investigating crime. In 1842, the Met established a detective department. Detectives did not wear police uniforms. This marked the beginning of plain-clothed, undercover police officers. In the 1870s and 1880s, the Met became more specialised. It established the CID in 1878 and the Special Branch in 1884. This showed that the police began to recognise the value of preventing crime before it occurred. There were also some developments in technology. Scotland Yard used its first telegraph in 1867 to make communication easier and quicker. The Criminal Records Office opened in 1869 as a centralised base for people's criminal records and reports of crime. 

The most significant improvements to policing methods happened after the Whitechapel murders of 1888. As a result, the Metropolitan Police did not have access to modern and scientific methods of policing at the time. This affected their ability to catch the Whitechapel murderer in 1888. They relied upon the investigative methods of careful observation, photographs, sketches and interviews. These proved ineffective in catching 'Jack the Ripper'.

What were the Whitechapel Murders?

• Between August 1888 and November 1888, a series of murders shocked the residents of Whitechapel. This is because:

  • Even in Whitechapel, it was uncommon to have so many murders in such a short amount of time

  • The Met believed that the same person murdered all five victims

  • The killer targeted women. Most of his victims were

    • Prostitutes

    • Divorced

    • Struggling with alcoholism

Who were the victims of the Whitechapel Murders?

How did the killer become known as 'Jack the Ripper'?

• Sensationalist newspapers frequently reported on the Whitechapel murders

  • They called the criminal the 'Whitechapel murderer' or the 'Whitechapel fiend'

  • Their articles increased the public's fear of the killer

• On 27th September 1888, London's Central News Office received a letter. The 'Dear Boss' letter contained:

  • An admission of guilt for the Whitechapel Murders

  • Details about upcoming murders

  • The inclusion of 'Jack the Ripper' as the author of the letter

• The Central News Office passed the letter on to the Met

• In an attempt to identify the handwriting, the Met released the letter to the public on 3rd October 1888

  • From this point onwards, the newspapers and the police referred to the Whitechapel Murderer as 'Jack the Ripper'

Investigative Policing: Careful Observation

• One method used by H Division to catch 'Jack the Ripper' was observation

How did the police observe the crime scenes of 1888?

Investigative Policing: Photography and Sketches

• Another method used by H Division to catch 'Jack the Ripper' was photography and sketches

How did the police use photographs and sketches in 1888?

Investigative Policing: Interviews

• A key method used by H Division to catch 'Jack the Ripper' was interviews

How did the police use interviews in 1888?

Bizarre investigative methods

• Police officers dressing up as prostitutes

  • The police believed this would set a trap for the Whitechapel murderer

  • Many constables refused to shave off their moustaches

• Attaching rubber to the soles of policemen's boots

  • The police believed that the rubber would allow constables to walk quietly around Whitechapel and catch the murderer

• The police also experimented with the use of bloodhounds

  • Barnaby and Burgho tracked trails across parks in London

  • The police failed to pay the owner of the bloodhounds. The owner refused to work with the police again

• None of these methods were successful in catching the Whitechapel murderer