NCJ Number
53474
Journal
ROUND TABLE Issue: 269 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 25-31
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THIS PHILOSOPHICAL LOOK AT REASONS FOR THE BREAKDOWN IN GREAT BRITAIN'S TRADITIONAL RESPECT FOR LAW AND ORDER SUPPORTS ITS THESIS WITH STATISTICS ON CRIME, ON SIZE OF POLICE FORCES, AND ON POLICE DISTRIBUTION.
Abstract
THE RISE IN CRIME, AND ESPECIALLY VIOLENCE, IN GREAT BRITAIN PARALLELS A SIMILAR RISE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD; THIS HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF CHANGES IN SOCIAL MORES. THE VIOLENCE IN IRELAND IS ALSO DISCUSSED. THE CRY FOR MORE POLICE IS ANSWERED BY POINTING OUT THAT THERE ARE NOW MORE POLICE THAN EVER IN RELATION TO POPULATION. IN 1976, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 109,500 POLICE OFFICERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 11,900 IN SCOTLAND, AND 5,250 IN ULSTER, A TOTAL OF 126,000, COMPARED WITH 105,000 IN 1970. HOWEVER, IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF POLICE IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, AND VARIOUS REMEDIES FOR THIS ARE SUGGESTED. IT IS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ASSAULTS ON POLICE OFFICERS, RARE BEFORE 1965, AVERAGED 300 A MONTH IN 1976. A TABLE SHOWS BOTH NUMBER OF CRIMES AND PERCENTAGE INCREASES BETWEEN 1970 AND 1976 FOR SEVEN CATEGORIES. THE DATA ARE BROKEN DOWN BY ENGLAND AND WALES, SCOTLAND, AND ULSTER. A PHILOSOPHICAL CONCLUSION BRIEFLY EXAMINES THE EFFECTS OF HIGH CRIME RATES ON CORRECTIONS AND ON THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM. IT IS AVOWED THAT THE ENGLISH SYSTEM IS STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE STRESS OF MODERN SOCIETY. (GLR)