Crimes of Violence

Extract

I think that we all recognise that the enormous growth in crimes of violence is one of the most disturbing social phenomena of our time. In 1948 there were just over 5,000 such crimes committed in this country. In 1958 there were more than 12,000 such crimes and I understand that the figures are keeping up well in the current year. That means there has been an increase of over 100 per cent. on the 1948 figures. I would observe that in 1938 there were well under 3,000 such crimes; so there is an increase of over 400 per cent, on that figure. How—and this is a very pressing problem—how are we going to control and contract this wave of crime that threatens to engulf us and threatens the life and limb of so many ordinary, decent, law-abiding citizens?

There is a school of thought that considers that the reintroduction of corporal punishment is the answer. As you know, corporal punishment was abolished by the Criminal Justice Act of 1948 on the recommendation made by the Cadogan Committee in 1938. It is said that, if we can reintroduce corporal punishment, that will play a large part in overcoming this wave of crimes of violence. There is undoubtedly a very considerable popular clamour in favour of reintroducing corporal punishment. Now, that clamour is, I think, caused by an instinct for revenge. It is not surprising at all that our passion for revenge should be aroused.