CRIMINAL TENDENCIES

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 7

CRIMINAL TENDENCIES

THE POSITION IN BRITAIN INCREASE IN BURGLARIES

FACILITY OF MOTOR-CAR EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION British Wireless. Rugby, April 15. Reviewing recent criminal statistics during the debate in the House of Commons on the Home Office vote, Sir Herbert Samuel said that the public mind had recently been disturbed by the increase in 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 the number of these had risen from 3000 in 1013 to 8000 in 1931.

As for the so-called “smash and grab” raids, there were 19 in 1929 in the metropolitan area and 20 in 1930. In 1931 from May to Novembei - the figure was 10. In January this year the figure had risen to 20, in February to 29, and in March to 31. The figure now was about three times as high as seven or eight years ago. This was a matter which rightly gave rise to much concern. • In regard to murders a comparatively small number of very shocking cases had taken place recently, but the impression that there had been a wave of murderous crimes was incorrect. The figure for last year was slightly below pre-war. Only ten of 109 murders last year were unsolved. There was an increaese in 1930 iri juvenile crime, but, although it was much to be deplored, it did not indicate a grave and sudden change and was still considerably less than before the war. Among the tendencies at work to diminish crime was the general social improvement that had occurred in the last two generations. Few crimes were committed now by elderly people.

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

Sir Herbert also referred to the extreme economic depression. A further eause was the motor-car, which had given greater facilities for the commission of certain crimes and, on the other hand, led to the spreading out. of the urban population. As to the cinema, his advisers were of opinion that it conduced more to the prevention than to the commission of crime by keeping boys out of mischief.