‘Dismal picture’ in crime figures

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 2

‘Dismal picture’ in crime figures

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington “Numbing public apathy” towards crime and rising rates of violent crime are described by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson, in his annual report to Parliament, as continuing to “paint a dismal picture.” He said the increase in reported crime in 1984 had been less than 2 per cent, but that its detail was horrific. “In spite of claims by some that crime trends are over-dramatised to add more resources, they need to be recognised for what they are — an indicator of one of the gravest and most direct threats the community now faces.” Mr Thompson said. “This threat gathers

strength as the threshold of pulic tolerance towards crime expands. People con-

fronted daily with reports of more frequent and serious offending become increasingly inured because of its apparent inevitability. “Such numbing apathy could lead us along a slippery and dangerous path,” he said. These considerations led irresistibly towards the conclusion that criminals could win the crime war unless such apathy were pushed aside and the police and the community acted more cohesively to fight them. Additional resources, manpower, equipment, and ever-stronger legislation, while necessary, would not in themselves deflate the rate of offences, Mr Thompson said. Details of the police annual report are on page 12.