history whitechapel key dates

1829

metropolitan police force was founded by robert peel with 3200 new officers

1870

dr barnado opened the first of his orphanages for boys

1870

there were 82 government laws describing what the metropolitan police should do when dealing with a wide range of issues, including: vagrancy, lunatics, pubs, street traffic, sewage and litter, coinage, children, runaway horses, fires and accidents

1873

the great depression brought widespread unemployment and poverty in london

1875

arisans’ dwellings act - this made the house owners responsible for keeping their properties in a good order and gave local authorities the right to buy and demolish slums if they were not improved

1878

criminal investigation department - was set up with 216 officers by howard vincent. these were plain clothed detectivess who investigated major crimes, like murder or sexual assault

1881

the peabody estate was opened. this provided 283 new flats to the people of whitechapel. some flats were offered at a reasonable price of three shillings for one room

1881

the founding of the social democratic federation

1885

the met was made up of 13319 men among a population of just over 5 million, but only 1838 of those officers were available for duty

1886

charles warren became the commissioner of the met police, warren was a former army general. warren was disliked by many in whitechapel for his heavy-handed approach

1888

the high unemployment and housing shortages in east london led to two parliamentary reports on the area, these suggested more integration for the jewish community and an investigation in sweatshops

1888

the five ripper murders occured between aug-nov, many of the victims were severally mutilated, the double murder on the 30th sep also caused serious divisions between the met and city police

1889

some parts in the west of whitechapel now had jewish communities that made up 95% of the area

1890

the houses of the working classes act opened the way for the new london county counsel to begin housing development schemes to replace slums with mass low-cost housing

1890

the public health amendment act gave more powers to local councils to improve toilets, paving, rubbish collection and other sanitary services