Responsibility of Police in Capturing Jack the Ripper

Responsibility of Police in Capturing Jack the Ripper

I believe that it was not the fault of the police for not capturing

Jack the Ripper for many reasons. Apart from the lack of technology

which limited the police to witnesses there are many other significant

reasons for never finding and stopping the Ripper. Although there is

overwhelming evidence to say that the police did their best there are

two sides to the argument. The police did not perform to their best

abilities due to the fact that in some of the circumstances they

failed to gain sufficient and reliable evidence.

The fact that the streets were unlit dim and pea soup fog was

obstructing any witnesses and police viewings was another thing on

their side to not be blamed. Not only were the streets hard to see and

navigate at night, the fact that the east end is riddled with small

back alleys where Jack the Ripper can manoeuvre with much subtleness.

This was of course a great advantage to the killer.

Also due to the fact that there was no real connection or link to any

of the other murders accept that they were all prostitutes or 'fallen

women'. Also although many of the murders were conducted in a brutal

manner one can not be sure that this is a certain link between all of

the murders. Although all of the murders were done in close proximity

there are no real clues to why he was doing this. Not knowing the

motive can be a big disadvantage to the police as they can't pin any

of the murders to one person.

The Ripper was very subtle and careful in all of the murders because

he made sure there were no obvious clues left. However the one clue he

did leave which was a leather apron was inadequate in those days due

to the lack of technology. In source A it says both crimes were the

work of a demented being. This suggests that the Ripper was clearly a

inhumane being and the fact that the police did not pick up on this