Violence on the streets

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 16

Violence on the streets

The shameful toll of accident victims on the roads an the last few days is sufficient to suggest that walking is the safest way to travel. The growing catalogue of assaults, not only in the last few days, but for months, suggests that city streets are ■ increasingly unsafe, even for those on foot Deaths and injuries caused by road accidents are almost always unintentional. They cah be described as accidents. Deaths and injuries in assaults may not always be They are always likely when , people bent bn theft or assault cover up their cowardice by using weapons, or pick on people who are unable to defend themselves.

Two shocking incidents have attracted attention in the last few days. A girl has died as the result of being battered with weapons by a group of people as she was leaving a party in Christchurch. An elderly woman was injured in Auckland when young thieves tried to grab her handbag. The attempted theft was bad enough. That the woman was battered with her shopping trolley as she lay on the ground, on a busy street in broad daylight, is horrifying.

Perhaps it is a small consolation that such despicable events are still uncommon enough to draw a good deal of attention. But violent assaults are more common than they were >lO, or even five years ago. Sometimes the object is theft Often, it seems, the object is no more than to cause pain

and to provide pleasure for those taking part in the assault.

Many causes might be given. Young people are increasingly exposed to a diet of violence on television, the ’ pursuit of easy money from theft and violence is encouraged by groups who claim to see political injustice in the community, family ties , have been ’loosened by a relaxation -of standards of behaviour, psychiatric? institutions appear to be too ready to discharge into the community patients whose inclination to violence is well known. The abuse of drugs and alcohol, and thepursuit of money to buy these/ also leads to violence. r? "

Sympathy is frequently sought for young thugs who are said to be the victims of broken homes, of unfortunate circumstances, of excessive drinking, or of being led on by their colleagues. Such sympathy is grossly misplaced. The victims, not the bashers, need the sympathy of the courts and the community. Finding causes for violent behaviour is a popular pastime for some who have not been the victims.

The urgent need is to deal with the reality, with the offenders when they have been caught and convicted. Mercy needs to be sought for the victims of assaults, not for those who carry them out. In the long run society might be able to devise ways of making the streets safer for ordinary people. In the short run tougher penalties for violent offenders, without undue concern for their excuses, will have wide support.