VIOLENCE WAVE IN SYDNEY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 17

VIOLENCE WAVE IN SYDNEY

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, February 27.

Hoodlums with iron bars, rifles, bicycle chains and boots continued their wave of violence in Sydney over the week-end.

The violence included bashings, brawls, armed hold-ups and a murder.

Police had complained that some courts were too lenient with violent criminals, the New South Wales Premier, Mr Robin Askin, said today. “The Government is looking to the courts to make an example of the worst offend ers,” he said. Police Injured “This is expected of the courts in cases without redeeming features.” He said that police had been injured in brawls with hoodlums, who were let off with a bond. The Government had given an assurance that it would stand behind the police in their efforts to nd the streets of hoodlums. “We expect this attitude to be reflected right along the line,” Mr Askin said. “Police have been asked to use proper discretion in adopting sterner tactics.

“But it is not much use giving them more authority, and providing stiffer penal-

ties in the law, unless the courts make an example of bad offenders,” he said.