Beatniks Target For Police Hostility

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32166, 9 December 1969, Page 10

Beatniks Target For Police Hostility

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) QUEBEC CITY. A survey of Quebec policemen shows that many of them are more hostile towards hippies or beatniks than they are towards criminals, United Press International reports. -The findings of a research team led by the University of Montreal's criminologist (Dr Denis Szabo) were compiled at the request of a Quebec inquiry commission in connection with its study of the administration of justice in Quebec.

In the lower St Lawrence River community of Rimou-

ski, 54 per cent of the policemen acknowledged hostility towards beatniks, while only 28 per cent expressed those feelings towards criminals. In general, 24.6 per cent of the province’s policemen surveyed said they felt hostile towards hippies or beatniks, while 23.6 per cent said hostility was the feeling they had towards criminals. Montreal policemen, the largest force, was more evenly divided, witty 23.3 per cent described thieir feelings towards hippies as hostile, while 22.9 said they were antagonistic- towards criminals. Policemen were asked to grade their feelings as “friendly.” "neutral,” or “hostile” , towards various groups of persons they encountered in their jobs—victims, students, drivers, witnesses, suspects, vagrants, beatniks, and criminals. Most selected “neutral” as their attitude towards most of the groups. The five cities surveyed were Montreal, Quebec City, Drummondville, Ville Jacques Cartier, and Rimouski. The survey said a definite relationship between the of the policeman and his attitudes emerged in questioning of the Montreal force, the only one polled by age groups. Four t|mes as many young constables indicated hostility towards criminals as did officers in the detective ranks.