Difficulties Policing In Whitechapel Flashcards
What were the characteristics of the environment in Whitechapel that made policing difficult?
Large parts of Whitechapel were slums and densely packed. The layout included dark, narrow alleys and buildings that hid criminals.
Criminals could hide in rookeries and alleys, making it challenging for police to patrol and maintain order.
How did alcohol influence crime and policing in Whitechapel?
Alcohol made people vulnerable to crime and escalated small disputes into violence, complicating police work.
There were 45 pubs and gin houses selling strong alcohol at affordable prices.
What was a significant responsibility of policemen regarding pubs in Whitechapel?
Policemen ensured landlords complied with licensing laws, including closing on time and preventing illegal activities.
After 1870, it was illegal to serve alcohol to intoxicated individuals.
What types of gangs operated in Whitechapel?
Large professional gangs of thieves and pickpockets, such as the Bessarabian Tigers and Odessians, operated protection rackets.
They demanded ‘protection money’ and used violence against those who refused to pay.
Why did people in Whitechapel rarely report gang activities to the police?
Fear of gangs led people to either pay protection money or retaliate with violence themselves.
Immigrants were particularly wary of police and gangs preyed on them.
What was the legal status of prostitution in Whitechapel?
Prostitution itself was not a crime, but keeping a brothel became illegal after 1885.
Many women resorted to prostitution due to desperate circumstances, including Ripper victims.
How many brothels and prostitutes were estimated to be in Whitechapel by 1888?
Approximately 62 brothels and 1200 prostitutes.
Prostitution was seen as a social problem needing monitoring.
What challenges did women in prostitution face in Whitechapel?
Women were vulnerable to violent attacks and rape, leading some to petty crimes. The police generally ignored their plight.
Victorians viewed these women as ‘unfortunates’ and lacked sympathy.
What role did public protests play in policing challenges in Whitechapel?
Public protests, often involving large angry crowds, frequently led to disorder and violence.
The Social Democratic Federation was active in these protests.
What were the effects of large-scale Jewish immigration in the 1880s on Whitechapel?
Attacks on Jews became common, and anti-Semitism among some police hindered trust.
Language barriers existed, as Jewish migrants spoke Yiddish.
How did immigration contribute to tensions in Whitechapel?
Mass migration led to overcrowding and ethnic tensions, with stories in newspapers accusing migrant groups of crime.
The proximity to the docks increased the transient nature of the population.
