Comments on: Rundle: boomers were more violent than “generation brat”

By: Susan McAlister

Susan McAlister — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:39:40 +0000

You’re quite right, Rundle. Perhaps the new police chief needs to sign on for a course — say, “Statistics & Lies 101”. Until the 1970s, there were very few night clubs in Melbourne (or shopping malls or cinemas for that matter), and on Saturdays and Sundays the city centre was a ghost town. A good night out usually meant a cheese and wine cask-infested party in Carlton or a visit to the Pancake Parlour. Just think of John Brack’s 1955 painting, “Collins Street, 5 p.m.” — that was Melbourne pretty much for the next decade and a half. The fact that Melbourne now has myriad bars, clubs and other such venues that are open 7 days and nights a week , and hordes of people that patronise them, must surely have something to do with the reported increase in violent crime, not some weird X-Box factor or a dearth of strap-wielding parents.
— Sue McAlister

By: skink

skink — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:26:59 +0000

I think you underestimate the role that the police themselves play in ramping up public fear of crime. Here in Perth we have very little crime, and a police force continually trying to justify its existence. They have a large media department, and in a state where not much happens the media are grateful for any stories they can get, especially of the copy is pre-packaged.

attached is a typical story, that although crime stats are falling, the police are bracing themselves for a crime wave that they have confected from thin air:

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=156403

By: Edward Thompson

Edward Thompson — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:37:27 +0000

Banning smoking inside has caused more problems than anything else. There are just so many more people on the street.