Crime In Scotland

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 September 1916, Page 2

Crime In Scotland

LOWEWr TOTAL .SINCE 18(iU

riie annua! report on prisons in Scotland, shows that the number of com.iKt.J.s in 1915 was 27.3-10, a decrease of 1(>,195 as compared! with the preceding year, and the lowest total since 1869. This decrease, the Commissioners siate, is all the more gratifying if* it is kept in view that the population of Scotland has since 1869-increased by nearly 45 per tent. The suggested causes for this great diminution aire Lhe facility which has existed , for obtaining work of varied character, k ' tmictions c:n the sale of intoxicating uyuor and, its increased cost, the al'o..

anew of time for the payment of fines •mder the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, and, to some extent, the entry into the navy and wrmy of those who previously found their way into prison. Of the total" decease in commitments to prison 826 occurs under the bending "Miscellaneous Offences,". the decreases being most marked in those sub-heads which are usually associated with intemperance. In remarking on the decrease in the number of prisoners received into • prison, several governors attribute the fall partly to the reduced drinking facilities following the Orders of the Central Control Honrdi (Liquor Traffic) which came into force in August and September. 1!)15. The governor of a prison in a large industrial centre states that the number of prisoners lias also 'been reduced by employers paying prisoners'" fines, in order to get the men back to their work, owing to the scarcity of labour. DECREASES AND INCREASES. Crimes against the' person show a dec ease of 840 from the preceding year Tlip decrease has been specia !, y marked n assaults (89). assaults on (etc.) officers of the law (27&), assaults by liusbandis on wives (398). On the other hand there were 10 more men charged with bigamy and 73 more women charged with cruel and unnatural treatment of children than was the case in the preceding year. Crimes against property with violence show a decrease of 384. Crimes against property without violence show a decrease of 1426, the charges of theft falling by 1168, and' those of falsehood, fraud, and wiTTtil imposition by 84. Commitments for malicious mischief decreased by 3X51. Miscellaneous offences show decrease of 13,377, mostly due to a'falling off in 'offences usually associated with intemperance. The decrease is most marked in the charges of breach of the peace disorderly conduct, etc. (7041); drunk and incapable, and drunk and disorderly (4738); obscene - language, indecent conduct, etc. (802); committing a nuisance (276). prostitution (222, offences under- the Vagrancy and Trespass Acts (948). There have been increases undior— The Aliens Restriction Act, 1914 (£Bi). the Merchant Shipping Acts (50), and offences against naval and military laws (2151.) The proportion of commitments to population was 5.72 per 1000 compared with 9.21 for the preceding year. The number committed to prison, for the first time was 6977. a reduction. of 27.1 per cen? on the figures for 1914. The average length of sentences was 22.00 days as. compared with 17.40 days in 1914.