THE DARTMOOR REPORT
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—There has been a dangerous tendency to hysteria over the " gangster class," and it is true that new methods of crime demand new methods of prevention and treatment. But anything which helps to make sordid crime appear a glorious, if wicked, adventure in the eyes of the young, only helps to create criminals. Every time energy and initiative have, for lack of legitimate outlet, run into channels of crime, society as well as the " gangster " stands condemned.
I know well enough that despite poverty, unemployment and the lack of any fair chance, the great mass of boys keep straight, and it is not because they lack enterprise and ambition that they avoid crime. But it is also true that a study of the personal history of Borstal boys (including the 25 per cent. " failtires ") shows that in the vast majority of cases there was no fair chance, either at home or in the labour market. Borstal, admirable as it is in many ways, suffers from over- crowding and lack of adequate industrial training. Our whole penal system produces expensive failures which could be successes if we made provision for studying the individual needs, weaknesses and capacities of offenders before deciding on the methods of treatment.
Last Friday the Government told the House of Commons that they had omitted to provide for Observation Centres for the physical and mental examination of young offenders, in the new Children Bill, because of the need for economy. It would be far more economical to spend money on Observa- tion Centres to prevent crime, than to throw " leaders of men " on the scrap-heap at Dartmoor for want of intelligent treatment and fair opportunities in their early years.—I am, Sir, &e., Parliament Mansions, CICELY M. CRAVEN, Victoria Street, S.W.1. Hon. Secretary, The Howard
League for Penal Reform.
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