Sexual Crimes Soar In Australia

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30768, 4 June 1965, Page 18

Sexual Crimes Soar In Australia

(N Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) SYDNEY, June 2. The word rape has become an almost daily diet for newspaper readers in Australia, where, of all crimes, the incidence of rape and associated sexual offences has soared.

One of the most disturbing aspects of recent rape cases—especially in New South Wales, which has felt the full impact of the Increased sexual violence—has been the incidence of “pack” rape.

In Sydney several months ago 10 youths attacked one girl, and soon afterwards two girls were brutally raped by 14 males. The incidence of sexual crimes in New South Wales increased ’by 306 per cent between 1952 and 1962, according to police files. There were smaller, but no less significant rises throughout Australia. The offences were directed against a large cross-section of the female population—from one case of a girl aged six to rapings of pregnant women. Several rapings were conducted at knife-point, and in Sydney two weeks ago a gang of vouths sexually assaulted a 19-year-old girl after terrorising her with a white-hot iron.

For several months last year one Sydney suburb had an average of one sex crime every 24 hours. In August last year there were 50 males awaiting trial in Sydney on rape charges. Along with the rapid rise in rape has come a heavy increase in the activities of prowlers and peeping Toms. Four women were raped during a prowler’s four-year-reign of terror between 1960 and 1964 in Sydney. In the space of nine days in June last year there were reports of 115 women either attacked or scared by prowlers. The commissioner of the New South Wales Police Department took immediate steps to counter the prowler menace by ordering the arrest of every-known suspected pervert on police records. A total of 135 arrests was made. To counter “pack” rapes gaol sentences have been heavy—mostly ranging from five to 15 years. However, in two trials of

“gangs” last year five life sentences were imposed. Up until 1955 rape in New South Wales was punishable by the death penalty. None Executed In the Australian Capital Territory the death penalty still exists and two youths were sentenced to death for rape in Canberra last year. However, no person has ever been executed for a sexual offence in the A.C.T. Among the reasons given for the increase are: More youths have cars, unsatisfactory home life, “excessive stimulation in a sex-obsessed society,” alcohol and overindulgent parents. But the prevention or cure is harder to analyse. Stiffer gaol sentences have been a feature of rape cases in the last two years—but young girls are still being attacked throughout Australia. In Sydney’s Long Bay gaol psychiatric treatment facilities have been established. Another alternative has been used recently in South Australia—the lash.