The organisation of policing in WC Flashcards
(10 cards)
The work of H division
H division beat constables were given a set route in WC to patrol. Were on look out for trouble, stopped and questioned people to find out what they were doing. They regularly had to report to sergeants and everything was recorded in a dairy .
Attitudes to the police
All policing in WC made more difficult by most of locals attitudes . The police was mistrusted, as generally seen as part of GOV that didn’t care for WC. This meant few cooperated with investigations. Police constables frequently attacked.
Problems in policing WC for H division - The environment
Dark, narrow alleys and courts with multiple doorways into rookeries packed with people and their possessions made chasing and finding criminals extremely difficult
Problems in policing WC for H division - prostitution
few jobs available - some turn to prostitution to survive. BY 1888 APX 2000 Prostitutes vulnerable to violence , worked in brothels or the street
Problems in policing WC for H division - alcohol
The large number of pubs and gin houses in WC sold very strong alcohol at affordable prices. Drunkenness freq fuelled violence and many alcoholics turn to crimes to feed their habit.
Problems in policing WC for H division - Gangs
Alongside individual petty thieves, large professional gangs of thieves and pickpockets operated. They ‘employed’ individuals who were well trained at both stealing and getting away from the crime
Problems in policing WC for H division - Violent demonstrations
Public protests were fairly common in WC. The Social democratic federation as involved in many of these protests such as the Trafalgar square demonstrations in 1887. Large numbers of angry people in one place freq led to disorder and violence and needed a large number of police to deal with this.
Problems in policing WC for H division - Protection rackets
Gangs such as the Bessarabian tigers demanded ‘protection money’ to ‘protect’ people’s businessess. Refusal led to property damage and violence. Fear of these gangs meant people very rarely reported them to the police and either paid up or retaliated with violence themselves
Problems in policing WC for H division - Attacks on jews
after large scale Jewish immigration in the 1880s, attacks on jews become common. some people were anti semitic themselves, while the language barrier prevented others from helping catch their attackers
The Whitechapel vigilance committee 1888
- set up by businessmen in Whitechapel on 10 sep due to police lack of progress in catching the ripper murderer
- offered a reward for info leading to the capture of the murderer
- patrolled the streets every night with torches and whistles
- disrupted the police investigations but also hampered the police by sending false leads and encouraging the criticisms of the police in newspapers
