Swanson, Anderson and Warren were, however, based in Whitehall. The murders, with one exception, were East End affairs and the on the ground investigation into the killing’s was handled by two divisions of the Metropolitan Police.

That of Mary Nichols was carried out by officers of the Metropolitan Police’s ‘J’ Division, amongst them Inspectors Spratling and Helson.

Those of Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Kelly came within the jurisdiction of H division, the head of which was Superintendent Thomas Arnold, although he too was absent on leave at the time of the first two Jack the Ripper murders, his post being filled by Acting Superintendent West.

In charge of the Criminal Investigation Department of H Division was Inspector Edmund Reid, “one of the most remarkable men of the century” as the Weekly Despatch described him. Indeed, Reid seems to have impressed just about everybody he came into contact with (criminals excepted!) and at the height of the Whitechapel Murders, when press criticism against the police was mounting and merciless, the satirical magazine Toby opined that “were it not for a little individuality displayed by some officers, few criminals would be brought to justice.” The article was accompanied by a cartoon depicting “a clever East End detective Inspector Reid” astride a donkey which was intended to represent Scotland Yard.

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