AGE PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 37, 12 February 1926, Page 3

AGE PROBLEM

CRIMES AGAINST CHILJSREN TRIBUTE TO WOMEN POLICE (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 24th December. . The report-of the Departmental Committee on Sexual . Offences-' Against Young Persons contains many points of moment, and it . explains very •carefully in what ' way women police* can be of use • in a danger which, is assuming increasing -proportions.,.."' The view •is 'generally • held, that ; there is a great deal of prejudice ; on the subject'of'women'police,' ; their usefulness,-; and their limitedpowers, but ito reasonable .person ' can study the report ■vrithout being, ■ inclined to modify, his views.' ■.;-■ Important changes in: the ;law are recommended in the- report. Mr..<J/ C» Priestley, K.C./ became chairman of the committee on: the'death, of Sir Byland Adkins, and the other members j were: Mr. T. W. Fry, Miw^E.H.;'Kelly, Miss Clara Martineau, "Dr. A:. H. Nbr; ris, Mr. R; J. Parr, Mrs.' Kackham, and Sir Guy Stephenson. .Among the amendments proposed are the following:— • ■. ' '■ ' ■■•■• ." .;.■'..■.■ '•..'.. Courts of „ summary., .jurisdiction should have power to grant.a.separation, maintenance, eosts,'and the' legal custody of "her children -to >■' wife whose husband has been convicted of an offence against one of his daughters. '■■..■■ ■. ■.' ■;,:: 'v...';'"'.-',; ...'■'.■ ■■',-.■ The age of consent! should ; be raised to 17, with amendments 'to ■ the law consequent thereon. . ■ ;>: The defence of reasonable belief that a girl was 18 or over should be abolished, but'where there are extenuating, eireumstanees i a young man found guilty on': indictment and placed on probation should not have;' a conviction registered against.him.? ■ Twelve months should be the timelimit for taking proceedings under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885, section 5 (L). y- ■ ■-i . -"-' The jurisdiction of petty sewions should be extended to try, where.the accused consents, offencet 1 of gross indecency, and of attempto to nave carnal knowledge of a gjrl- under .13, or under 16, and of attempted inees^ with a girl under 1(5; and power. should be given the justices to imprison up to twelve months for attempted carnal knowledge and for attempted incest. Quarter. sessions should have ? power to try all sexual offences against young persons : provided that the Court is presided over by • a Becorder, or by a chninn'an or deputy having professional legal' experience. On the' question of raising the age of consent the committee are not unanimous. The chairman, Mr. Fry, aud >. Sir 6. Stephenson are opposed to any change, while Mi«s Kelly suggests that the age should be raised to 18. Mr. Fry and Sir ; G.. Stephenson also declare against' the proposal to abolish the defence' of reasonable belief that a girl wai : ,.'l6 iOr-j.oyer., 1';;!-.■:'•■•■■',«•■■■' '.■■■■■■■■ increase or ornmoKß. • On .a review of the evidence and the official statistics available the; committee concludes: (a) That there are many more sexual offence* committed against young penona than are reported; (b) That, when proeerfings are taken the proportion of acquittals is high, (c) That there is a considerable decrease in sexual crimes accompanied by violence, (d) That;there is »■: distinct increase \n inijeeent assaults on boys and on girls under 16. They have received conflicting evidence as to how far this increase in the official figures denotes a: gennine increase in the occurrence of the offence, but they consider, after weighing all the evidence, that there, is an increase in the nnmber of indecent assaults on young persons. They further find that, owing to the ;, practice of reducing charges, mainly- in: the interests of the child or young person, the statistics of indecent assaults now include .a proportion of more serious sexual offence, and held this' m an additional ground for viewing their increase,'with concern. ■ ';-. ,■:•,;.. ; '.';.'..,.' ,^:..';.' . ■.". Numerous proposals are- submitted by the committee ■■ for improving the administration of the law. It is suggested that in this type of offence properly trained-.women should take the statement of girls, but that where this is not possible a woman should be present while the; policeman! is. taking the statement. Where a medical examination of a girl is necessary it should, whenever, possible, be carried out by a woman doctor. - In all /except 'the simplest cases, a solicitor should be engaged to assist the proseention. ■ Separate waiting-rooms for. young persons

should be provided by all 'Court*. Young persons should not be required to attend before the grand jury, proTided that the bill is not ignored without hearing the evidence of the young person. A suitable woman shond always be present in Court to the knowledge of the girl witness, and a matron should be available to take charge of young witnesses while waiting to givs evidence. ■ " •'.. The' committee further recommend that wherever a woman is entitled to sit as a magistrate, she should be a§ked to. attend on the Bench when girls are" concerned in a case of indeeeney; and that, subject to certain reservations the Courts should be cleared wnen young persons are giving evidence. .In view of the extreme difficulty of bring--ing to justice an offender committing offences against a number of. children separately, the committee urge that ac- , tipn to remedy this should., be ' -take* by Parliament. They'propose, finally, that neither the name, address, nor photograph of a young person concerned as a witness, or as a young offender, in these cases, should be published' except by the 1 express authority of ■ thY Court. '■; ',■■.'■• ' ,' ■ ;'■".. ■•' ■'. .' ■"'*!■':.■■ INVALUABLE ASBIBTANCE OF WOMEN POLICE. In regard to preventive meuvtm, the committee recommend that tie statutory requirements as to the care of children, employed in entertainment;! should be extended to include the ears of young persons up to 17; that thers should be better supervision in parka, fairs,:cinemas, and in school precinct*; and that student teachers should receive instruction at college as to th* best methods of giving older children, individually, instruction on matters oi •ex. ;.■'■■.■ , ■ ■ . . ■■ ■ ■:' ■'■ : •'■■.'■■. ■';'- ■ The committee has had evidence.of the improved moral tone which follows the provision of facilities for healthy indoor and: outdoor recreation. "S.They deplore the indiscriminate circulation of undesirable literature, which deals in a lurid and unwholesome way with crimes, "with birth control,: and witk sexual matters. "There is,.in onr opinion; real need for further education, both general, and technical, when tks child leaves school, and we attach importance ,\ to; every, method whieV promotes a .continuance of' the influence and wise,guidance of the teacher.' 1 '..''. Many witnesses, it. is stated, hay* testified to the value of women ■ police in combating this particular evil, and the committee feels convinced that ;ia many respects a policewoman can perform eettain tasks in a way her aw. colleagues find impossible. "Woaiam police can offer them a friendly ea»tion when it is most needed; they cam gain the .confidence; of mothers w4« are sometimes aware of wrongs in their children's lives of which they shrink to speak openly; they can supervis* children in public places - and cinemas, and be of special assistance in many other ways. We weleoniei the recent 'increase which has taken place in the number of women police in London, but we regret that the number employed in the provinces is still «malL We are impressed by the value of th» services of 'policewomen in dealing with the protection of girls and with matters relating :to sexual offence* against young persons, and we hope there will be a larger number of women police appointed for these and other services."- •• • ■ ... •;•• < ■ •■■■■'.'■■• ■ ■ ...i