Rise In Crime Alarming

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31111, 14 July 1966, Page 16

Rise In Crime Alarming

(N.Z. Press Association) HAWERA, July 13. Though great progress had been made in treating poverty and disease, similar success could not be claimed by society in its battle against criminality, a Police officer said in Hawera tonight. Inspector B. W. Gibson told a meeting of the St. John’s Men’s Club that, next to war, criminality posed a gretater threat to lives, property, peace of mind, comfort and convenience than any other malady confronting mankind. Crime in New Zealand was costing an increasing amount each year in maintenance of police, detection of offence, loss of life, loss by theft and fraud, loss by vandalism, maintenance of prisons and rehabilitation and parole of prisoners. “In spite of the efforts of

some self-professed ‘experts’ to minimise the crime problem, the undeniable fact remains that crime is increasing at an alarming rate,” said Inspector Gibson. “Our crime problem today is the most serious in our short history. In the 12 months ended last March we saw crime and other offences rise to a record 132,000. This is 13,000 —or a 12 per cent —increase over the previous 12 months.”

Police forces in Britain, the United States and, to a lesser extent, New Zealand, were in trouble because they were undermanned. “The thin blue line of

police officers has been stretched too thin,” said Inspector Gibson. “The problem is not so acute in this country, but New Zealanders, I feel, will have to realise that they will probably have to pay more to keep in check the inroads that crime is making into our society. “The need is for more police, better-paid police, bet-ter-trained police, betterequipped police and competent police. “There is nothing that reduces the hoodlum violator to a good citizen more quickly than the sudden appearance of a police officer.’'