Law and Order — The Way Ahead
| Author | G. J. Dear |
| Published date | 01 January 1980 |
| Date | 01 January 1980 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X8005300110 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
G. J.
DEAR,
LL.B., M.B.I.M.
Assistant Chief Constable
of
Nottinghamshire
LAW
AND
ORDER
THE
WAY
AHEAD
At a time when most discussions on the subject of law and order are
preoccupied with the problems of the present day, it is refreshing to
find a forum concerned with the paths ahead. Whilst the
contemporary position is bound to attract considerable attention,
and rightly and understandably so, it is to the future
that
we must
look for the real answers to the problems that concern all of us in
both our professional and, indeed, private lives.
1t is undeniable that the subject is a constant topic ofconversation
at all levels in society. As recently as the early autumn of last year, a
national public opinion poll conducted by a most influential
newspaper! recorded that an overwhelming proportion of the
population put lawand orderas the most urgent task of government,
even ahead of the need to counter growing inflation. It must be said
that the survey wascarried out against abackground of publicity for
increased salaries for the police, and before the industrial trouble of
the winter of 1978/79. Nevertheless the general topic remains a vital
one for each and everyone of us,emphasising the words ofthe Royal
Commission on Police who in 1962commented "The maintenance of
law and order ranks with national defence as a primary task of
government. It is an essential condition of a nation's survival and
happiness."
But most debates on the subject are so emotive that they tend to
generate more heat than light, and this is not difficult to understand
when the enormity of the problem is appreciated. Last year I
reported- the state of crime in England and Wales to an international
audience in New York in these words - "Over the last few years we
have been confronted with a massive increase in crimes of all kinds.
Particularly worrying to us are those involving robberies - up
18% - burglaries - up 17% - and vandalism - up 33%.
Our
successes in cracking down heavily on the professional gangs
hardly assuage our very serious concern at the escalation of serious
crime on the streets and that involving children, where in both areas
there is evidence that we may be losing ground. Offences of violence
are doubling every 7 years or less, robbery has trebled in 10 years,
I"The Daily Telegraph" August 1978
2"Meeting the Challenge" A lecture to the 4th Annual International Criminal
Justice Speakers Consortium - April 1978
62 Police Journal January 1980
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