Chch magistrates may be taking sterner line

Press, 27 August 1977, Page 1

Chch magistrates may be taking sterner line

By

JENNIE HAMILTON

Christchurch magistrates appear to be taking a sterner line when sentencing those convicted of assault, wilful damage, or burglary.

Observers in court have noted a change in the last three weeks and sentencings to periods of imprisonment are more common. The change is borne out by records kept at Addington Prison. In May, 33 persons were sent to prison but this figure slumped to 22 in June. In July, the number increased to 30, and at the close of yesterday’s court session 35 persons had been sentenced to imprisonment so far this month. With three days of sentencing to go, those put in long-term custody during August could easily number 40.

On Wednesday Mr J. S. Bisphan, S.M., told one man convicted of breaking and entering that people who committed burglaries must expect to go to prison. He repeated this the next day and sentenced a persistent offender to 12 months imprisonment after he had been convicted of being unlawfully on the premises of the Marine Hotel on June 29.

The prosecutor, Sergeant J. C. Rowe, had drawn the attention of the Bench to the leniency shown by the court in recent times. He said that since 1976 the accused had appeared before the courts on four charges of receiving, one each of burglary and of theft, for which he had been sentenced to periodic detention, probation, and been fined.

Yet, said Sergeant Rowe,

the man still continued to offend and his latest offences had been committed on the eve of being sentenced on a receiving charge.

From his record, it was obvious that while the defendant had been undergoing periodic detention, he had been committing other offences, said the prosecutor.

Yesterday the Magistrate told a defendant that he had had in mind a sentence of periodic detention. However, he noted that the defendant already had convictions for burglar)' and attempted burglary, for which periodic detention had already been imposed. He sentenced the man to six months imprisonment. The number of “stairdancing” offences in Christchurch had reached “frightening proportions,” Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M., told a youth, aged 15, when sentencing him in the Children and Young Persons Court yesterday to Borstal training. The youth had stolen sums totalling $477, none of which had been recovered.

Terms of Imprisonment for assault are also becoming more frequent. A man who knocked another man unconscious. then “stomped” on his head three times, was sentenced on Thursday to six months jail. Such behaviour could not be tolerated, said Mr Bisphan, S.M. It was an example of the sort of “mindless violence” prevalent in the community.

The chief superintendent of the Christchurch Police District (Mr G. E. Twentyman) said yesterday: “We have been concerned about

the increase in crime, not only violence, but crimes against property. There just seems to be no end to it.” The acting superintendent at Paparua Prison (Mr M. Leimon) is coping with 320 prisoners in a prison which has a holding capacity of 240, but says he is sympathetic to the problems facing magistrates. He thought that the numbers of criminals being sent to prison reflected improved police methods and

the success of the recently formed police squad, a team of 17, which spends most of its time in the field. The squad has been particularly successful in apprehending professional receivers and drug offenders. Sending criminals convicted of serious offences to prison “at least affords society a bit of protection.” Mr Leimon said. “The crime situation is certainly not abating, in the South Island anyway ”