This section deals with the police officers who investigated the Whitechapel Murders. We give their rank and provide a little biographical detail on each of them. Wherever possible we also give contemporary opinions of their abilities and discuss their actual position in the hunt for Jack the Ripper.

Two police forces investigated the murders. The Metropolitan Police investigated four of the crimes (Mary Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Kelly). The fourth victim of Jack the Ripper, Catherine Eddowes, was murdered in Mitre Square in the City of London, so her killing was investigated by the City Police. 

The officers based at Scotland Yard began with the Police Chief:-

 Sir Charles Warren.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

Dr Robert Anderson

Assistant Commissioner.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Department.

JAMES MONRO

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER

LATER POLICE COMMISSIONER

CHIEF INSPECTOR

DONALD SUTHERLAND SWANSON

DESK OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE CASE.

On the ground in the East End the murders were investigated by detectives of the Metropolitan Police's H-Division in charge of which was:

INSPECTOR EDMUND REID

INSPECTOR FREDRICK GEORGE ABBERLINE

HEAD OF THE ON THE GROUND INVESTIGATION