London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1920

Annual report of the Council, 1920. Vol. III. Public Health

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xxxviii
help of a temporary nature; but such, as often proved in many other movements in England, is not
very easy to obtain, and moreover one ever present difficulty is the personal factor at stake.
The girl has first come under the observation of a certain worker and gradually confided to that
worker her life story.
Moved about from one institution to another, she has to repeat the story of her shame and degradation
over and over again to strangers, and the worker first brought into contact with her loses sight of
her to a great extent.
We frequently find that it is to one individual worker that the girl feels specially drawn, and this
one it is who has the most influence with her.
This is a problem that does not present any easy solution, and though it is an undoubted factor
in successfully dealing with the girls at the moment, no plan presents itself by which it can be completely
solved, but it is mentioned because we know it exists.
It is also worth considering whether under some scheme of co-operation it would be feasible to
have all the names of the women dealt with by the various agencies reported weekly to some central
authority in order to prevent overlapping, and also to prevent, what has happened at times, a girl obtaining
help and guidance from two places at once without their knowledge and, we are afraid, occasionally
playing the one off against the other.
Where a branch considers a case, for good reasons, should not be further helped, such should be
placed on a black list of warning.
In any case found on either list by another branch with whom a girl is in contact a telephonic
communication should at once be sent to the bureau on whose list the name appears, to obtain the latest
information and for purposes of consultation.
*******
We have refrained in this report from quoting any individual cases of which we gave many examples
in the earlier one of some months ago, but if further details of this nature are needed we will willingly
supply them from fresh ones that have been dealt with since the previous report was issued.
From our experience we very fully recognise the extreme gravity of the situation, and are very
grateful that these further investigations are being made, and will only be too glad to render any help
in our power.

STATISTICS.

Months, 1920.Appeals to girls.Separations.
8 London bureaux, (including Waterloo).Waterloo (only).8 London bureaux (including Waterloo).Waterloo (only).
January306170543118
February562179737171
March926190757155
April83119283296
May755303692300
June728286543154
July770309646170
August63822750062
September72021041460

During the above months the lady patrols have dealt with the following cases (Waterloo only):—
1920. Taken to hospital for treatment. Found lodgings at hostels, etc. Found employment.
January—September 116 104 71
Notes:—During the above period the eight bureaux have been cut down to six. Appeals to men
(which are probably greater than those to girls) are not given, as in many of such cases these are over
other than questions of immorality.
During the period of the war the above figures were probably three times the totals now given.
In the second schedule it does not follow that the figures relate to different girls every time, but
they are separate transactions, though it may be the same girl would appear under each heading.
I think it may be fairly and moderately estimated that the patrols have taken 100 girls off the
streets in the nine months in Waterloo alone.
APPENDIX E.
INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE OF THE METROPOLIS.
(a) During the year ended 31st August, 1920, the Metropolitan Police Women Patrols have
cautioned 6,676 girls for loitering and accosting men.
(b) Of this number, 652 girls asked for assistance to escape from their mode of life, and 112 of
these were, at their own request, placed under treatment for venereal disease.
(c) The average age of the girls referred to above was 20 years.