The Halifax Slasher - Panic and Vigilantism in 1938

Local Historian David Glover returns to The Workshop to present his talk on The Halifax Slasher.Halifax was in a scary lockdown in the last week of November 1938.

As war clouds gathered over Europe, a mysterious attacker had been cutting the clothes of several local people (mainly women) in the dark, sometimes causing nasty wounds.

Dubbed 'The Halifax Slasher', his description varied, and the story was publicised in the Press across the UK.

Local police seemed unable to cope, and Scotland Yard was called in.

Following paranoia and dangerous vigilantism in the district - which astonished many - the case was finally solved.

Prosecutions followed.