Ethnic offending 'disturbing'

Press, 18 April 1980, Page 11

Ethnic offending 'disturbing'

Wellington reporter The incidence of violent offending by those of ethnic origin is “disturbing” ■ according to an Auckland «probation officer, Mrs J, Pettit. She told a Liquor Advisory Council symposium I that conviction among I Maoris was six times 1 higher than would be expected in terms of their proportion of the total population, aged 15 or older. With Pacific islanders, the assault con- ' viction rate was 8 per j cent compared with a total population proportion of 1.96 per cent from the’l976 Census. Perhaps the main reason for this was that culturally the physical expression of all emotions was more acceptable to these groups.

In acting aggressively, they were likely to come before the courts, she said.

In terms erf age, serious violence (excepting murder and manslaughter) were almost exclusively commited by young men aged under 30, the predominant group being aged 14 to 24, Mrs Pettit said.

Canvassing reasons for this, Mrs Pettit said aggressive behaviour in so :ie t y was fairly acceptable in males but proscribed in females; males were more likely to seek comfort and refuge in alcohol; males were less likely to exercise self-control; and many males did not have acceptable physical outlets for the expression of aggression.