Policing

Question 1

Reasons why crime was common:

Answer 1

• High levels of poverty and unemployment lead to desperation: engagement in criminal activities
• overcrowding and dilapidated buildings made it easy for criminals to blend in streets

Question 2

Reasons why it was hard to stop crime

Answer 2

-Limited Policing Resources meant that the MET faced difficulties in effectively patrolling such densely populated and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods

• A transient population made it harder to track criminals

-Lack of forensic technology

Question 3

Uniform of H-Division

Answer 3

Deep blue jacket
Top hat/Helmet from 1863
Truncheon/Baton
Handcuffs
Small Oil fire lamp
Black and white striped armband to show they were on duty

Question 4

What was the role of the beat constable?

Answer 4

Each constable was given a specific area that they would have to walk at a 2.5 mph at a specific time so that their sergeant would know where they were and could call on them at all times

Question 5

Recruitment of police

Answer 5

• Over 21, under 32
• Taller than 5’9
  -Able to read and write
  -Not have more than 2 children
  -Physically fit

Question 6

% of recruits who came from the
countryside outside London

Answer 6

31%

Question 7

Number of men in 1830 when
the MET was established

Answer 7

3,300

Question 8

Number of men in the MET

Answer 8

5700

Question 9

Number of Policemen to the population in whitechapel

Answer 9

1/300

Question 10

How long was the time of a daily beat?

Answer 10

30 minutes

Question 11

How long was the beat at night?

Answer 11

15 minutes

Question 12

What was the length of time before coppers were moved to a new beat?

Answer 12

Monthly- to avoid corruption between constables and locals

Question 13

What happened in 1885 including the Fenians?

Answer 13

bombs exploded at the house of parliament and the ‘Special Irish Branch’ failed to stop this

Question 14

What were the advantages to the beat system?

Answer 14

They increased police presence and visibility:

• In presence of police officers (marked by their uniform), crime were less likely to occur

-relationships were formed between police and the local people. This trust formed meant that the liability of information being shared with the police officer about (suspected) criminals increased.

Question 15

What were the disadvantages to the beat?

Answer 15

They were vulnerable to assault as they were alone, the route could be figured out by criminals

Question 16

When did the Detective Branch form?

Answer 16

1842

Question 17

What was the role of the CID

Answer 17

Ordinarily clothed policemen solving unsolved crimes

Question 18

Why was Charles Warren criticized?

Answer 18

He made the police force too much like an army and he failed to catch the ripper

Question 19

What happened in Trafalgar square in 1887?

Answer 19

A riot was put down with seemingly too much force (hence Charles Warren making the police force seem like an army)

Question 20

What did Warren do in November 1888 and why did it lead to his resignation?

Answer 20

He wrote an article in a famous magazine that criticized the government for not suppressing protests. As he didnt get the article approved by the home secretary, it was seen as a protest against Mathews, who rebuked him for this and made Warren angry, hence caused him to resign.

Question 21

What was the role of the home secretary?

Answer 21

In the Metropolitan police, the home secretary appointed the commissioner of police (head of police) and controlled political and economical affairs for the MET so as to ensure maximum efficiency in the MET