JUVENILE CAFE SOCIETY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 6

JUVENILE CAFE SOCIETY

“Breeding Ground For Crime” (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, December 10. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham (Alderman D. Johnstone), who has just completed a personal investigation of crime among young people, has attacked what he called "aimless juvenile cate society,” which, he said, led ypung people into paths of crime. Adolescents, he said, gathered in groups in cafes with nothing to do and then moved out into the streets in gangs. "I don’t think it a proper thing for groups of young people to go into coffee bars and spend hour after hour listening to records, buying cups of tea or coffee, and bottles of pop. "Training is needed to show them how to spend their money wisely instead of feeding pennies into juke boxes and fruit machines because they have nothing better to do with their spare time.” > Aiderman Johnstone’s inquiry was prompted by a Court statement on the high rate of crime among adolescents in Birmingham. It was stated that 31 per cent, of detected crimes in the city last year were committed by young people under 17. Breaking and entering cases were the most common and were most prevalent in the 13 to 14 age group. Alderman Johnstone suggested that industry should take more interest in the social welfare of young employees, A personnel officer might, right from the start of their engagement, encourage boys to use the social amenities of the firm or join youth organisations in their home district.