Jack the Ripper - Why were the police unable to catch the Ripper?

Lack of experience was factor of why the police was unable to catch him. The police had never experienced a serial killer like Jack the Ripper. This was all new to everyone including the police. Lack of evidence is another reason why police was helpless to catch the Ripper. Jack the Ripper hardly left any physical evidence of his terrible crimes. In 1888 the police mainly relied on catching the person red-handed or having their partner turned then in (neither happen in Jack the Ripper’s case). Another problem was interference from the public and the press. Too many false leads were given to the police by lying witness, fake letters made mostly by the press. This made it difficult to track down Jack the Ripper. Also there was no forensic science fingerprinting, DNA and blood analysis was not yet discovered.

Police tried to use many methods to catch the murderer. The police attempted to make decoys (dressed as prostitutes) to trap Jack the Ripper. Unfortunately, this method did not work. Then they tried to search houses, nearby the crime scene, or relevant areas looking for evidence. Unfortunately this method also failed. Sometimes the police even ask for the public to point out suspicious people. This caused the false leads by the public. Ripper used careful methods to make sure he won’t be caught. He made sure no evidence is left in the scene and managed to blend in the background. He also is able to flee from the murder scene without bringing any attention to himself.

Since the Ripper had no connections with his victims, the police didn’t know where to start their investigation into the Ripper case. Usually there is a connection established between the murderer and the victim. The police are also inexperienced with this type of attacks, they are unsure of what to do to solve Jack the Ripper’s case.

In conclusion, when all of this is taken into account it is hardly surprising that the police was helpless to catch Jack the Ripper.