Whitechapel c1870-1900 Flashcards
What was the CID
The Criminal Investigation Department was set up in 1878 by Howard Vincent with 216 officers - this seemed to clear up the confusion between crime prevention and crime detection. Problem of corruption in the service still continued
Who was Charles Warren?
He was appointed Met Police Commissioner 1886
Intended as a warning to those seen as trouble making opponents of the government
He called the army to control protesters in Trafalgar square
Criticised by all sides for appearing to enjoy the action in Trafalgar square
People showed intense dislike for his bullying ways
Forced out as commissioner
What was the local context of whitechapel ?
It’s located in East London, one of the capital’s poorest districts with gangs rulng its streets
1,000 out of 30,000 were homeless
Smoke and gas fumes choked the maze-like streets
Overcrowded slum areas= rookeries( 30ppl to 1 room )
Sewers ran in streets, little healthy drinking water
Poor sanitation
200 lodging houses where 1/4 of population lived
In 1881 - 4,069 / 30,709 owned houses
What was the Peabody Estate ?
1875 Artisans Dwellings Act - Peabody estate opened in 1881 and provided 286 flats (3 shillings per week for 1 bedroom flat)
What type of work was available in Whitechapel?
Sweated trades - tailoring, shoe-making, match making (small, cramped, little light, long hours low wages)
Rail constructions and labourers in London docks - leaving families with uncertain income
Economy depressed and unemployment widespread
What were the different types of immigration in Whitechapel?
. Irish - first immigrants were young men who came with plans to kove to America but ran out of money, so they settled in areas near river and made living as navigators/navies
Jewish Eastern European - Jews fled Pogroms, came to London by 1888 they were widely resented by locals due to cultural differences and they seemed quick to find employment so locals resented their success. Became a self segregated community
Who were anarchists?
1871 - other revolutionists briefly took over Paris, but revolution failed and leaders fled often to Britain(more politically tolerant)
Se began to feel that Whitechapel became refuge to other nation’s terrorists so anyone with Eastern European accent/name was seen as a potential anarchist
Who were socialists?
SDF founded in Britain 1881 to represent agricultural, industrial labourers and Women’s rights
Radicals wanted a revolution to bring down existing capitalist system
Involved in Trafalgar square demonstration 1887
They saw that police and public face of government didn’t care for downtrodden people at a time of economic depression.
What was the H division?
H division was for Whitechapel.
Division was run by superintendent, a chief inspector, 27 inspectors, 37 sergeants(who supervised around 500 ordinary officers/constables who were on beat)
15 detectives from the CID were assigned to H division
What did the H division constables do?
They marched out with colleagues
Reached patrol areas and started work
They would stop and question people to find out what they’re up to at night
Constable met with sergeant to discuss what happened, they could be fined if away from beat / miss a crime
How was policing in Whitechapel?
Crimes committed had a direct link to high poverty rates and unemployment
Many women became prostitutes in order to survive (some worked in brothels, some walked in vulnerable places)
Abortions were common and police turned a blind eye
1888 - 62 brothels and 1200 prostitutes
Ordinary people didn’t report gangs incase violence turned on them
Drunkenness often turned to violence
How did police deal with social issues?
They acted as Poor Relief officers to take people to workhouses and children to school
Attempts to control prostitution were resented by women
What were workhouses?
Workhouses had been set up in the earlier 19th century as part of the poor Relief system run by Poor Law Administrators. They offered food, shelter (old, sick, disabled,orphans, unmarried mothers) inmates expected to do manual tough labour and wear uniform. Families split up and vagrants held separately from long term residents as they were seen as lazy and a bad influence
What did Barnardo do?
His first project was a school for children whose parents had died from an infectious disease
In 1870, Barnardo opened an orphanage for boys
He later opened a girl’s home
By 1905, nearly 100 Barnardo homes caring for 85 children each
