Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Investigative Policing & the Whitechapel Murders (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
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?
Name | Age | Job | Date of murder | Location of body |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mary Ann Nichols | 43 | Prostitute | 31st August 1888 | Buck's Row |
Annie Chapman | 47 | Crocheter, flower seller and prostitute | 8th September 1888 | 29 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields |
Elizabeth Stride | 44 | Sewer, cleaner and prostitute | 30th September 1888 | Berners Street |
Catherine Eddowes | 46 | Sewer, cleaner and hop-picker | 30th September 1888 | Mitre Square, Aldgate |
Mary Jane Kelly | c.25 | Prostitute | 9th November 1888 | 13 Miller's Court, Spitalfields |
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?
Examiner Tips and Tricks
A source to use when considering why the Metropolitan Police did not catch 'Jack the Ripper' is coroners' reports. Coroners were medically trained. In the Whitechapel Murders, coroners provided important information on the type of injuries the victims sustained and theories about who could have committed the crime. The police relied heavily on coroners' reports. For example, Dr Wynne Baxter provided a report on Annie Chapman's body stating that 'The injuries had been made by someone who had considerable anatomical skill and knowledge.' This directed the police to investigate local hospitals and veterinary surgeons.
There are limitations to coroners' reports. There were no forensic techniques in 1888. This limited how the police could use the coroner's discoveries to locate the murderer.
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
Worked Example
Describe one feature of the investigative policing methods used in the hunt for the Whitechapel murderer in 1888
2 marks
Answers:
One method used by the police to catch 'Jack the Ripper' was observation of the crime scene (1). A fragment of an envelope with a Sussex Regiment was found near the body of Annie Chapman (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
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