Crime and punishment in Whitechapel, c.1870-c.1900 - EdexcelInvestigating and recording Whitechapel

Whitechapel, in the East End of London, experienced high amounts of crime and difficulties in policing at the end of the 19th century. The murders of several women took place in, or around, the area but their killer was never caught. The murders were thought to be carried out by one individual who came to be known as Jack the Ripper.

Part ofHistoryCrime and punishment in Britain, c.1000 to the present day

Investigating and recording Whitechapel

National sources

National sources cover the history of the whole of Britain in the late 19th century. These include national newspapers, records of crimes and police investigations, Old Bailey records of trials and Punch cartoons. The strengths and weaknesses of these sources will be influenced by the nature of the enquiry that they are being used for.

National newspapers

  • Strengths:
    • Provide information about the most notorious crimes in Whitechapel and London.
    • These crimes would have helped to sell papers and would have been of interest to people who did not live in London.
  • Weaknesses:
    • Only contained information about a small number of crimes and court cases.
    • Did not contain information about petty crime in Whitechapel, as this was not of interest to readers outside London.
    • The reporting style was intended to sell papers and so was prone to exaggeration for
    • Only extreme crimes made the national news.
    • Likely to be prejudiced against the poor and immigrants. They may also have used unclear language, eg suggesting that women were prostitutes.

Records of crimes and police investigations

Question

What are the strengths and weaknesses of records of crimes and police investigations?

Old Bailey records

The Old Bailey was London’s most important criminal court between 1673 and 1913. Criminals from Whitechapel would have had their trial here. All of the Old Bailey’s records have been digitised and put online so that anyone can access them.

StrengthsWeaknesses
Are official documents and provide detailed information about crimes. Records of sentences might not give an accurate impression of the seriousness of a crime, as judges were sometimes biased or unduly harsh in their judgements.
Recorded details about those accused of crimes, witnesses, police constables who investigated the crimes and their accounts of the investigation, and judgements made on each crime. Defendants may not have had good representation by lawyers and so their side may not be explained well.
Were created by someone who was impartial, from the statements of witnesses who were under oath.The records may lack the context of the crime.
StrengthsAre official documents and provide detailed information about crimes.
Weaknesses Records of sentences might not give an accurate impression of the seriousness of a crime, as judges were sometimes biased or unduly harsh in their judgements.
StrengthsRecorded details about those accused of crimes, witnesses, police constables who investigated the crimes and their accounts of the investigation, and judgements made on each crime.
Weaknesses Defendants may not have had good representation by lawyers and so their side may not be explained well.
StrengthsWere created by someone who was impartial, from the statements of witnesses who were under oath.
WeaknessesThe records may lack the context of the crime.
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