CRIME WAVE IN U.K.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28920, 13 June 1959, Page 4

CRIME WAVE IN U.K.

“Higher Rate Than Ever”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) „ TORQUAY, June 12. The British Government was faced with “a crime wave unparalleled in recent years.” the Home Secretary (Mr R. A. Butler) told chief police officers at their annua] conference today. In its determination to meet the challenge it had called a “summit conference” to co-ord-inate activity among Government and voluntary agencies dealing with delinquency generally. For the first time ever Britain’s police services were likely to cost more than £lOO million this year, compared with half that sum in 1951, and £25 million in 1938. partly because of increased pay, but also because of increased strength. The present increase in crime had come as a shock to a generation inclined to think that crime was produced by poverty and bad living conditions, he said. Poverty had almost disappeared. yet crime was higher than ever. Research into Crime Research into crime and methods of treatment was of first importance. Mr Butler said. The Home Office research unit was being expanded, and a new institute of criminology planned at CambricTge University would in time yield a body of new learning in a territory virtually unexplored.

“There is a relation between our new approach to the problems of mental illness and the enlightened approach to the problems and causes of criminal behaviour.” he said. In new proposals for dealing with young offenders the principle was to make the punishment fit the criminal, and* e not necessarily the crime.