CRIME IN ENGLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1932, Page 3

CRIME IN ENGLAND

BURGLARY INCREASES. MINISTER'S STATEMENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 15. Reviewing recent criminal statistic.during the House of Commons debate on the Home Office vote, Sir > Herbert Samuel said that the public mind recently had been disturbed by thel-in-crease in certain classes of- crimes ’arid certain classes of criminals. The worst classes of crime',./.showing an' increase were burglaries -and breakings.- In London the increase fin' these bad risen from 3000 in 1913 to 8000 fin 1931.' Ais for the so-called smaShrtndgrab raids, there were 19 in 1939'ire'Hhi' metropolitan area, and 20 in • 4930;''-fn 1931, from iMay To (November;, 'the figure was 16, and in the month of 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 a« 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 crimes had taken place recently, blit the impression that there had been a wave of murderous crimes was incorrect. The figure for last year was slightly below the pre-war total. Only fen of the 109 murders last year were still unsolved. There- was an .increase in 1930 in juvenile crime, but although this was much -to be it did not indicate a .grave, sudden,, change, and still was considerably . leysufi lum the ore-war ;Hguf,e. . . • :

Among the [tendencies at; work, to .diminish crime was the generate improvement, .that had occurred jn .the last two, generations. Few crimes were committed now by elderly r people.

Referring to criminals o.f »• 25- to 30 years old, who very largely contributed the present; increase in l .v-indictable offences, 'Sir Herbert -said that- . they represented a big problem.' 'The war was to a large extent responsible for their taking criminal ways, for at an impressionable time of their youth, discipline was lax owing to the absence of fathers. He also referred to the extreme economic, depression. - A further 'cause was the motor-car, : which had given greater facilities tov-the court mission y>f certain crimes, 'arid (hi 'the other hand had led ' to the- spreading 01ft of the urban population. Ais to -the rcineTTOfV-'-' hifi* ~atlv users wort of the-, opinion -that- it conduced,/fiioi e to prevention .'than •to commission' of crime, by keeping boys out of mischief..