Parents Warned About Perverts

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 1

Parents Warned About Perverts

Twenty-four complaints of indecent acts involving children had been reported to the Christchurch police this month, said the crime prevention officer (DetectiveSergeant E. J. Stackhouse) yesterday. “While I was addressing a group of 50 mothers at Papanui on Wednesday evening on the necessity of telling their children not to accept rides from strangers, and not to take sweets or money from strange men, two young children were being enticed into a car in Manchester street,” Mr Stackhouse said. There has not been a wave of this type of crime. Unfortunately, these perverted persons are always with us. Arrest, conviction and punishment on one crime does not prevent these men with

‘kinks’ in their minds committing the same offence again,” Mr Stackhouse said. Young children should not be allowed to play in parks on their own for any length of time. Parents, if they could not be present, should check on them at frequent intervals. “Mothers who see men habitually lurking round parks or playgrounds, particularly round conveniences, should take note of them and give the description of the man concerned to the local police. “Again, if children say that men have offered them sweets, invited them to go into bushes, in a car, or offered them money, these facts, with a description of the men involved, the time and place should be reported to the police. “The police have knowledge of many of these perverts and can take action in patrolling the areas involved, ask the men to move on, and take other measures in an effort to

prevent children being molested,” Mr Stackhouse said. He said children had been molested or importuned in parks, on beaches and on farms in the complaints made this month. Some cases of “peeping Toms” involving children had been reported. The police regarded a peeping Tom as a potential molester. “Invitations to children with indeceift intent are commonly made by men in cars. There have been few serious offences committed in the latest reports, but the police are aware that undetected perverts are potentially dangerous.

“Detectives have arrested several persons in connexion with the 24 complaints made this month. Parents can cooperate by giving their children common-sense advice. Any person who sees anything suspicious should report it to the police. Car registration numbers give the police a definite lead, and parents or

other persons are asked to note the numbers if possible,” Mr Stackhouse said.