XN000022-1980-01-30 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1980

12

+ IN 1980 THERE HAVE BEEN SIX ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERIES INVOLVING PROPERTY VALUED AT $36 000. AS A RESULT OF POLICE ACTION AND OTHER MEASURES TAKEN BY THE BANKS, SO FAR SIX PERSONS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN FOUR OF THESE, HE SAID, ADDING THAT A FIFTH ROBBERY WAS PREVENTED WITH NO LOSS OF PROPERTY.

THE NUMBER OF ROBBERIES OF GOLDSMITH SHOPS TOTALLED 38 IN 1979 WITH PROPERTY LOSS VALUED AT $7.8 MILLION, COMPARED WITH SIX ROBBERIES INVOLVING PROPERTY VALUED AT $1.5 MILLION IN 1978, MR DAVIES POINTED OUT.

ELEVEN PERSONS WERE ARRESTED IN RELATION TO SEVEN ROBBERIES IN GOLDSMITH SHOPS IN 1979, HE SAID.

+ IN 1980 THERE HAVE BEEN 16 ROBBERIES OF GOLDSMITH SHOPS INVOLVING PROPERTY VALUED AT $4 MILLION AND FOUR PERSONS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR THE IR INVOLVEMENT IN TWO SUCH ROBBERIES. THE OTHERS REMAIN UNDER INVESTIGATION, HE ADDED.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT IN ALL THESE STATISTICS THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY STOLEN WAS THE VALUE AT THE DATE OF THE CRIME.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME SHOULD BE EXTENDED

*****

THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL MAGISTRACIES AND THE CATEGORIES OF OFFENCE TO WHICH THE SCHEME NOW APPLIES SHOULD ALSO BE EXTENDED, ACCORDING TO RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE OF THE LAW SOCIETY LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM REV THE HON JOYCE M. BENNETT,

HE SAID THE REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.

HOWEVER HE SAID BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT COULD COMMIT ITSELF TO A TIMETABLE FOR EXPANSION, OR DECIDE WHETHER THE ASSISTANCE SCHEME OR THE ADVICE SCHEME SHOULD FIRST BE EXPANDED, THE REPORT MUST BE STUDIED AND INTERESTED BODIES CONSULTED.

MR GRIFFITHS SAID THE REPORT HAD HIS FULL SUPPORT AND HOPED THAT THE EXPANSION WOULD NOT BE LONG DELAYED.

+BUT IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT THIS SCHEME WILL HAVE TO COMPETE FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDS WITH OTHER SOCIALLY DESIRABLE PROJECTS IN OTHER FIELDS, HE ADDED.