Lack of crime pussies police

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33452, 6 February 1974, Page 8

Lack of crime pussies police

The police are puzzled by the low crime rate in Christchurch during the Commonwealth Games. Only S4O local crimes were reported lasd month, a marginal increase on those in January of last year.

The police plans for an expected increase in crime took nine months to prepare, cost thousands of dollars, and involved the use of more than 200 policemen from other parts of New Zealand. The extra policemen left Christchurch on Sunday without having had to cope with any noticeable increase in crime. "It is a strange phenomenon.” Superintendent G. E. Twenthyman said on Monday. "The expected increase did not occur, in spite of the extra visitors and property in the city. "The only serious crimes vve handled were a complaint of rape and a robbery’, both of which could have happened at any other time.” POSSIBLE CAUSES Superintendent Twenty-, man said the police could not satisfactorily explain the quietness in the city, although two possibilities : were lack of money to spend in hotels, and the heavy policing. “The hotels were very : orderly', no crime was reported among athletes or officials, and altogether there 'was. no abnormal crime or' , disorder pattern," 'he said.

However, even if the quietness could have been foreseen, extra policemen would ; have had to be brought to Christchurch to adequately cover the Games venues and (to provide security for the Royal family, said Superintendent Twentyman.