CRIME IN BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21160, 18 April 1932, Page 9

CRIME IN BRITAIN.

REVIEW BY MINISTER. burglaries on the increase. British Wireless. RUGBY. April 15. Reviewing the recent criminal statistics in the House of Commons during a debate on the Home Office vote, Sir Herbert Samuel, Home Secretary, said the public mind had been disturbed recently by the increase certain classes of crimes and certain classes of criminals. The worst classes of crime showing an increase were burglaries and breaking and entering. In London tho increase in these classes had risen from 3000 in 1913 to 8000 in 1931. As for the so-called smash-and-grab raids, there were 19 in 1929 in tho metropolitan area, 20 in 1930, and in 1931, from May to November, the figure was 16. In tho month of January this year the figure had risen to 20. in I'ebruary to 29. and in March to 31. The figure was now about three times as high as it was seven or eight years ago-. Ibis matter had rightly given rise to much concern. In regard to murders a comparatively small number of very shocking crimes had taken place recently, and tho impression that there had been a wave of murderous crimes was incorrect. Tho figure for last year was slightly below that of pre-war years. Only 10 of tho 109 murders last year were not solved. There was an increase in 1930 in juvenile crime, but although this was much to bo deplored, it did not- indicate a grave, sudden change, and was still considerably less than before the war. Among the tendencies at work to diminish crime was tho general social improvement which had occurred in the last two generations. Few crimes were committed row by elderly people.

Referring to criminals of 25 to 30 years old who very largely contributed to the present increase in the indictable offences, Sir Herbert said they represented a big problem. The war to a large extent. was responsible for them taking to criminal ways, for at an impressionable tinio in their youth their discipline was lax owing to the absence of their fathers.

The Minister referred also to tho extreme economic depression as a further cause of crime. The motor-car had given greater facilities for the commission of certain crimes. On the other hand the motorcar had led to the spreading out of the urban population. As to the cinema, his advisers were of the opinion that it conduced more to tho prevention than to the commission of crime by keeping boys out of mischief