Commentary
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6904200301 |
| Date | 01 March 1969 |
| Published date | 01 March 1969 |
| Subject Matter | Commentary |
Unfinished
Story
Another
but
by no means the last chapter in the story of the five-
year-old Glasgow-London mail-train robbery was finished when
Bruce Reynolds was sentenced on January 14, to 25years' imprison-
ment. The search continues for Ronald Biggs, who escaped while
serving a 30-year sentence, and the great bulk of the money stolen is
still unrecovered:
but
the journalists' main preoccupation now seems
to be with the length of the sentences and the security conditions
under which the prisoners are confined. Another chapter or two may
also be written on the period between the crime being committed
and
the arrests being made, while the prisoners were enjoying the
proceeds of the
robbery-an
enjoyment, it seems, somewhat im-
paired by being blackmailed and threatened by other villains
and
kept continually on the run.
Sensible people who take the trouble to inform themselves on
these matters have no time for draconian punishment for its own
sake.
If
convicted criminals are irretrievably dangerous to the com-
munity they must obviously be kept where they can do no harm,
but
if rehabilitation is possible it must be pursued, and the fate of Rey-
nolds and his fellow-prisoners will depend not on the magnitude of
their crime but on their conduct in custody.
Against the dark chapters of the unfinished story can be set the
bright one of a detective's achievement. Detective Chief Super-
intendent
"Tommy"
Butler, M.B.E., closed his distinguished police
career (to continue his work against crime in the Midland Bank's
security organization) with a series of triumphs against the train
robbers. All were arrested, and he was duly commended from the
Bench, together with his colleagues. The Service will always remem-
ber the invincible perseverance of this salient chief of the Flying
Squad and histireless, exemplary devotion to duty.
Courage
and
Comradeship
The award last year of the George Medal to Serjeant James Hall
Matchett of the 1st Battalion The Welch Regiment arose from an
incident in which the Hong Kong Police were concerned. Some
Chinese police officers
had
inadvertently entered a minefield round a
police post near the China border and one was seriously injured by
an explosion. A European Inspector was badly hurt while attempting
to rescue him when another mine went off, also slightly injuring
Serjeant Matchett. The Serjeant then took charge of the rescue
March 1969
91
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