CRIME IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 149, 21 December 1945, Page 8

CRIME IN BRITAIN

NOT REALLY DISTURBING

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 1.15 p.m. LONDON, vDec. 20. "The figures are not really disturbing, and most Londoners are still able to go about their daily business without bothering what they are going to encounter at the next corner," declared the Commissioner of Police, Sir Harold Scott, to the Press.

He added that although, he did not wish to belittle the serious figures, which showed an increase-f-pf 26 per cent, in indictable- crin^sSover last year, there were considerations which should be borne in mind. ■ "■■■*

They, were: First, all crimes were more accurately recorded than in 1938. The rise in values since that time had lifted many offences previously regarded as petty thefts into the category of- larceny in dwellings. There was admittedly a large increase in robbery and assaults, but to put the matter in its real perspective the total of cases in the past eleven months was only 299. It was not surprising, after six years of war, when affairs were settled by force and the law of the jungle, that the--general atmosphere had affected the behaviour of some people.

Secondly, there was such a shortage of goods, and they were so easy to dispose of, which was a tremendous encouragement to crime. Thirdly, there was a large number of British and Allied deserters, who could live only by preying on the public. Figures quoted by Sir Harold Scott showed that housebreaking had increased by 33 per cent, since 1944 and 27 per cent, over 1938; shopbreaking 91 per cent, and 137 per cent.; robbery and assault 40 per cent, and 106 per cent.; larceny in dwellings 48 per cent, and 155 per cent.; offences against the person 32 per cent, and 23 per cent. There had been about 30 murders so far this year, which was the normal average. '