Whitechapel historic environment Flashcards
Police recruits for the Met
- Most from outside London and attracted by relatively good pay
- Some ex-soldiers with labouring and farm work experience
- problems with absenteeism and drinking on the job
- by 1885 Met just 13319 people policing 5 million
- Only 1383 policemen on duty at a time
control of Met
The Met entirely under the Home secretary who appointed a commissioner to run the Met. Government wanted control of Met due to worries around socialists and anarchists in Whitechapel
The ‘beat’ constable
major aim of met to prevent crime main method was deploying constables on the ‘beat’-patrolling a set route of streets to deter criminals, ask people what they’re up to, breaking up fights, and arresting suspects.
Development of Criminal Investigation Department
CID set up 1878. previous department to detect crime ineffective. Those in CID separate from rest of force. Initially had little success as seen in Jack the Ripper case.
Commissioner Sir Charles Warren
- Former Army General, became commissioner in 1886
- 13 November 1887 banned planned unemployment protest. When protesters ignored deployed thousands of police supported by 1000 soldiers. Violent clashes, many injured and 1 protester died, Warren directed from horseback
- After Jack the Ripper struck autumn 1888 Warren ordered increase in patrols. Failure to catch Jack cost Warren job
Attitudes towards police
Attitudes varied widely. Police still had people’s trust in some areas but events such as Trafalgar square riot of 1887 created a feeling that police against working-class and worked for upper and middle classes. Economic depression and poverty contributed to the hatred.
Lodging houses in Whitechapel
Lodgers paid a nightly fee for a bed and access to a kitchen, particularly squalid. quarter of Whitechapel population lived in these.
‘Rookeries’ in Whitechapel
Slums, where most housing was located, extremely overcrowded with poor sanitation.
Attempts to improve housing in Whitechapel
Some attempts for example George Peabody paid for building of 11 blocks of flats in former slum. Peabody Estate opened 1881, tenants charged reasonable rates.
Provision for the poor
Workhouses seen as last resort. offered a bed and food in return for hard labour. conditions extremely poor, families split up, inmates wore uniform. Most elderly, ill, disabled, orphans, or unmarried mothers. After 1880 Barnado’s homes offered better conditions for young orphans.
Lack of employment opportunities for women
- High unemployment due to economic depression, few jobs for women so many turned to prostitution. They also worked long hours in factories i ‘sweated’ trades, conditions cramped and dirty
- worked building railways or dockyards, pay better but weekly incomes varied enormously.
Link between environment and crime
- low income areas led to stealing for survival
- unreliable work meant a lot of ‘spare’ time leading to alcoholism, disruptive behaviour and violence
- Overcrowding led to tensions between residents, led to violence
- High levels of prostitution led to more violence on women.
Irish Immigrants
- Many Irish left Ireland for USA 1840s but ended up in London
- Poverty meant most could only afford least expensive parts of London
- Most worked as Navvies (labourers building roads, railways, or canals) or dockers
- Reputation for being drunk and violent, associated with terrorism such as Fenians (fanatical) fighting for Ireland’s independence
Anarchists and Socialists
- from 1848 wave of attempted revolutions across Europe, many revolutionaries in East-End London
- movements set up or supported by revolutionaries were anarchism (no organised government) and socialism
- Both movements feared by authorities, upper, and middle classes. attracted support from some in Whitechapel.
Fluctuating population
Most accommodation in Whitechapel temporary, not many permanent residents to foster community