Lessons in crime denied

Press, 17 December 1988, Page 5

Lessons in crime denied

p A Wellington “Crimewatch” does not teach people to commit crimes, the Deputy Police Commissioner, Mr John Jamieson, says.

He was refuting comments by a Manukau C. 1.8. commander, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Ward, that “Crimewatch” showed robbers how to rob banks. “People likely to commit serious crimes, such as aggravated robbery, are not going to learn much from a television programme,” Deputy Commissioner Jamieson said. “They are already thoroughly educated in crime and heavily involved in criminal activity.” A television programme was not required to tell people that banks held large amounts of money 'and disguise reduced the chances of a robber being identified. “Crimewatch” reconstructs crime to prompt witnesses’ memories. The police and TVNZ were careful to show nothing that may prejudice an ongoing inquiry or undermine security measures, he said. All serious crime was detailed daily by the news media. Criminal behavi-

the cases featured on the 13 "Crimewatch” programmes since August,. 1987, had been either resolved or significantly advanced as a direct result of the programme. “That includes 35 arrests so far, and the identification of 26 other offenders.” The programme has also been responsible for the recovery of more than $130,000 worth of stolen property and the return of found or recovered property in 41 cases. “These figures speak for themselves. And they are results we would not otherwise have got. ‘Crimewatch’ has been a resounding success for the police and victims of crime,” Deputy Commissioner Jamieson said. “I have been told by Auckland staff that since ‘Crimewatch’ the quality of information given by the public, particularly descriptions of vehicles and people, has improved dramatically. “This highlights the crime prevention and educational value of the programme.”

our was frequently dramatised in film and television. Offenders were most unlikely to see methods on “Crimewatch” they did not already know. Of the 36 reconstructions screened this year only two had been of bank robberies. Neither involved offenders leaping the counter. More than one third of