-
5
Wednesday, October 16, 1974
Crime statistics make bewildering reading and
It
can be bedevilled by so many extraneous factors, but the
trend of crime over the, last year has continued upward. is true that the increase in serious crimes, which are those against which our main drive has been made, has levelled off. But while both police and public can take heart from this first ray of hope that can be discerned following the ·
to read great efforts they have made, it would be wrong too much into this tendency of the last 6 or 8 months. Nor is there any question of our doing so, is in any case unacceptably high, and there can be no room for self-congratulation until a significant
and sustained decrease has been achieved.
The level
But though success
still eludes us, the outlook is not by any means all black,
because real progress has been made in the essential pre-requisites, the groundwork that must be laid, before there is much prospect of decisive.results.
In the first place there has been a break-
through in recruitment for the police. This is at last proceeding at a satisfactory rate, and with a new intake of high quality. The net increase this year in the constabulary is likely to be at least 4500, (as against 300 last year), and there is a reasonably satisfactory increase in the inspectorate. Civilianisation, including the installation of traffic wardens, should have freed about 300 uniformed
men and women from routine work by the end of this year, and this, process will continue. You know of the magnificent response to the appeal for auxiliaries and now about 1900
/a day are