Preventing crime in Britain

By A. THOMSON

Detective Superintendent Crime Prevention Co-ordinator

Metropolitan Police, New Scotland Yard

My forebears in the Metropolitan Police first took to the streets in London in 1829, with the primary object of preventing crime. The next object was that of detection and punishment of offenders when crime was committed.

The Commissioner at the time, Sir Richard Mayne laid down a clear policy at the outset that the police effort was to be directed towards the protection of life and property, the preservation of public tranquility and stated that the absence of crime would alone prove whether those efforts were successful and whether the objects for which the Police were appointed, had been attained.

Today, nearly a century and a half later, the whole concept of policing not only in London but throughout the United Kingdom is based upon that principle.

If he was upon the scene today, I doubt whether Sir Richard Mayne would think we have been very successful as crime has continued to increase as time goes on.

There are of course many reasons contributing to the present state of affairs.