Crimes of Violence: An Enquiry by the Cambridge Institute of Criminology into Crimes of Violence against the Person in London

297 Pages·1963·25.06 MB·English

by  F. H. McClintock (auth.)

Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN CRIMINOLOGY
EDlTED BY
L. RADZINOWICZ, LL.D.
VOLUME xvm
CRIMES OF VIOLENCE
CRIMES OF VIOLENCE
An Enquiry by the
Cambridge Institute of Criminology
into Crimes of Violence
against the Person in London
BY
F. H. McCLINTOCK
FELLOW OF CHURCHILL COLLEGE, CAMBRlDGE
AN» ASSISTANT DlRECTOR OP RESEARCH IN THE INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY
ASSISTED BY
N. HOWARD AVISON, N. C. SAVILL
AND V. L. WORTHINGTON
OF THE RESEARCH STM F OF THE INSTITUTE
Palgrave Macmillan
1963
ISBN 978-1-349-81666-8 ISBN 978-1-349-81664-4 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-81664-4
Copyright © F. H. McClintock, N. Howard Avison,
N. C. Savill and V. L. Worthington, 1963
Preface Copyright © L. Radzinowicz, 1963
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover Ist edition 1963 978-0-333-07925-6
MACMILLAN AND COMPANY LIMITED
St Martin's Street London WCR
also Bombay Calcutta Madras Melbourne
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA LIMITED
Toronto
ST MARTIN'S PRESS INC
New Tork
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
PREFACE by the Director ofthe Institute ix
I. STATISTICAL TRENDS IN CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST
THE PERSON
§ I. The volume of crime and the proportion of crimes of
violence in England and Wales 3
§ 2. Offences ofviolence against the person and sexual offences 5
§ 3. Changes in the different kinds ofviolent crime 7
§ 4. The volume of crimes of violence considered in relation
to the population 10
§ 5. Geographical distribution of crimes of violence 11
§ 6. Distribution of crimes of violence according to types of
police area 13
§ 7. Trends in crimes of violence against the person in the
Metropolitan Police District 16
(i) Upward trend in crimes ofviolence in London 16
(ii) Thevolume ofcrimes ofviolence in London 17
(iü) The incidence of violence in London related to the
size of the population 18
§ 8. Trends in indictable and non-indictable assaults 19
§ 9. Summary and concIusions 22
11. AN AsSESSMENT OF THE TREND IN CRIMES OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST THE PERSON ACCORDING TO THEIR F ACTUAL
SUBSTANCE 24
§ I. The circumstances in which the offences occurred 27
(i) Distribution according to the six main cIasses 31
(ii) The six main classes of circumstance related to the
legal classification 33
(iii) Previous association between offenders and their
victims, according to the six main classes 36
§ 2. Distribution of crimes of violence in the Metropolis,
according to districts 39
§ 3. The victims of crimes of violence 41
§ 4. The assailants 45
§ 5. The weapons used and the methods of attack 48
§ 6. Physical injury and medical treatment 52
§ 7. Summary and concIusions 55
v
vi CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
111. THE RECORDING BY THE POLICE OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE 58
§ I. Difficulties in the recording by the police of crimes of
violence 59
§ 2. Changes in the recording of crimes of violence due to
revision of instructions to the police 64
§ 3. Statistical increases in the recording of crimes of violence
due to changes in the attitude of the police 67
§ 4. Statistical increases in the recording of crimes of violence
due to the increased tendency of victims to report
incidents ofviolence 68
§ 5. Specific factors adduced by the police to account for some
ofthe increase in the number ofcrimes ofviolence 69
§ 6. The incidence of unreported and undiscovered crimes of
violence 71
§ 7. Summary and conclusions 73
IV. INCIDENCE OF DETECTION AND CONVICTION OF 75
OFFENDERS
§ 1. The number of "incidents" and the number of crimes of
violence 75
§ 2. Crimes cleared up and those not cleared up 77
§ 3. The detected offenders against whom no proceedings were
taken 87
§ 4. Offenders brought to trial and convicted 89
§ 5. The total number and proportion ofo ffenders not convicted 93
§ 6. Summary and conclusions 94
V. PENAL RECORDS AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF CON-
VICTED OFFENDERS 97
§ I. Sex and age of offenders 97
§ 2. Offenders with no previous convictions for offences of
violence 103
(i) Theproportionofsuchoffenders 103
(ii) First offenders and those with previous convictions
for non-violent offences only 105
(iü) Nature and number of previous non-violent offences 106
(iv) Previous aggressiveness among those with no
previous convictions for violence I I 1
§ 3. Offenders with previous convictions for crimes ofviolence 115
(i) The proportion of such offenders I 15
(ii) Number and nature ofprevious offences ofviolence 117
(iü) Violent recidivists who also had previous convic-
tions for non-violent offences 119
(iv) Degree of violent recidivism according to classes of
offence 122
CONTENTS ~
CHAPTER. PAGE
§ 4. Family and social background of the offenders 124
(i) Place ofbirth 124
(ii) Marital status 128
(iii) Domestic circumstances 130
(iv) Occupation 131
§ 5. Summary and conclusions 133
VI. STANDARDS OF PUNISHMENT AND SUBSEQ.UENT CONDUCT OF
CONVICTED OFFENDERS 137
§ I. Maximum sentences ofimprisonment for crimes ofviolence 137
(i) Higher courts 138
(ii) Magistrates' courts 144
§ 2. Alternatives to imprisonment, including the use ofmethods
of treatment introduced by the Criminal Justice Act,
1948 147
§ 3. Sentences imposed by the courts of the Metropolis corn-
pared with those irnposed by the provincial courts 152
§ 4. Distribution of sentences imposed by the courts in the
Metropolis related to the circumstances of the offence
and the background of the offenders 154
(i) Sen tences according to the six main classes 155
(ii) Sentencing considered in relation to method of
attack and the degree ofinjury inflicted 159
(iii) Sentences imposed on young offenders convicted of
violent offences 161
(iv) Sentences imposed on adults aged 21 and over, who
were convicted ofviolent crime 165
§ 5. The after-conduct of offenders convicted of crimes of
violencein 1950and 1957 167
§ 6. Summary and conclusions 173
APPENDIX
I. Scope ofthe enquiry and records used 178
II. Criminal statistics relating to offences against the person
in England and Wales and in the Metropolis 185
III. Distribution of crimes of violence, according to different
areas in the Metropolis 197
IV. Distribution of indictable crimes of violence against the
person and robbery in London, according to the main
classes of circumstance in which the offences occurred 207
V. A note on the provisions for judicial corporal punishment,
in so far as they were applicable to crimes of violence
against the person, before these provisions were re-
pealed under the CriminalJustice Act, 1948 21 I
viü CONTENTS
APPI!.NtlIX PAOB
VI. The extent to which reparation was ordered for those
victims ofc rimes of violence included in the enquiry 2 I 3
VII. A note on cases of death by violence and murderous
assaults 2 I 7
VIII. A note on violent sexual crime 225
IX. A note on attacks on police and on civilians intervening
to prevent crime 228
X. A note on the extent to which potential violence can be
assessed on the basis of the possession of offensive
weapons 235
XI. A note on young offenders and hooliganism 24 I
XII. A note on violence arising from family strife and neigh-
bourhood disputes 248
XIII. Supplementary statistical data relating to cases from the
Metropolitan Police District 256
XIV. A note on some recent salient trends in violent offences 266
LIST OF TABLES IN THE REPORT 273
PREFACE
BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE
This report concludes the large-scale enquiry undertaken by
Mr. F. H. McClintock into crimes ofviolence, the first conclusions
ofwhich have already been published in Robbery in London.
A whole gamut ofbehaviour has been brought within the scope
ofthe present study, which reflects the many shades ofviolence in
human relationships defined as offences by the law. A new classi
fication of these transgressions enables them to be assessed in a
different and better way.
No less important is a review, in the third chapter, of how far
these crimes are reported to the police, and how they are recorded.
Variations here may weH have affected trends in the volume and
nature of crimes of violence as shown in official statistics.
The relevance of undiscovered and unreported crimes of this
kind has also been considered from another point of view. An
attempt has been made to find out how aggressive our offenders
reaHy are in terms not only of their convictions but of hidden acts
ofviolence which have slipped through the meshes ofthe law.
The enquiry is rounded off by a survey of the sentencing prac
tices ofthe courts and the subsequent conduct ofthose convicted of
crimes ofviolence.
The contingent of aggressive and threatening delinquents shows
no sign of shrinking. In fact, during the briefperiod of 1960-1962,
the number of indictable crimes of violence, including sexual
offences accompanied by violence, has increased by a further
twenty-five per cent. This and several other concIusions emerge
from the last appendix of the book in which an attempt has been
made to rettace the trends up to 1963.
We are deeply grateful to the Metropolitan Police Force for the
facilities and assistance given us in carrying out this enquiry in the
London area. In particular we are indebted to Mr. G. C. Richard
son and to Mr. R. Orr-Ewing ofthe Commissioner's Office and to
Chief Superintendent A. S. G. Crayfourd of the Criminal Record
ix
x PREFACE
Office. The London and Middlesex Probation Services have again
been very ready to help.
In the early stages ofthe enquiry Mr. J. H. Bagot, Mr. J. Nur
saw and Mr.J. Carter took a share in the heavy task of collecting
and analysing the material, and Mrs. M. E. Jones has rendered
valuable assistance throughout. Mr. D. H. Rees and Miss M. G.
Hills, of the Statistical Department of the Rothamsted Experi
mental Station, have played an important part in the basic
tabulation ofthe material. Mrs. M. A. Walker later gave us much
advice on the statistical presentation ofthe data.
I should also like to express our thanks to the Reviewing and
Consultative Committee, its chairman Mr. F. L. T. Graham
Harrison, Miss J. J. Nunn, Mr. T. S. Lodge and Professor
M. Fortes. It must, however, be emphasized that the opinions
reached in this report do not necessarily represent those of the
Horne Office or of other authorities with whom we have been in
touch.
L.R.
INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY
U NIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
April 1963