New Peak Reached In Juvenile Crime

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31583, 22 January 1968, Page 10

New Peak Reached In Juvenile Crime

Juvenile crime in Christchurch reached a record figure of 2320 offences last year. The highest figure' previously was 1808. in 1966. Most of the increase came from 230 more theft and receiving offences and 147 more burglaries.

Juveniles last year committed 767 offences involving theft and receiving 537 in 1966 and 307 burglaries —l6O in 1966. In both categories these figures are the highest on record for Christchurch.

Offences involving the unlawful taking of motor-veh-icles numbered 170, compared with 82 in 1966, but were well down on the 1963 figure of 214.

The number of juveniles reported missing rose from 77 in 1963 to 405 in 1966 and 418 in 1967. Assaults numbered 52 last year, 22 more than the previous highest total in 1966. Sexual offences, wilful damage, bicycle conversion, traffic offences and offences under the miscellaneous bead-

ing decreased from 321 in 1966 to 267 last year. Male juveniles committed 1037 offences and females 508. In the male group most offences were committed by 16-year-olds, and in the female group by 14-year-olds. Offenders numbered 1545, of whom 899 were dealt with in the Children's Court. The others were dealt with either through the Child Welfare Division or given a warning, or no action was taken.

The officer in charge of the Christchurch police district (Chief Superintendent G. S. Austing) said that many of the juveniles reported missing had absconded from Child Welfare institutions, and many of them had committed offences while they were at large.