76 ANALES DE LA SOCIEDAD CIENTÍFICA ARGENTINA 



INFLUENCE OF BOEE, WAR UPON CRIME IN ENGLAND AND WALES 



In table 17 ' \yí11 be found statistics relative to population of the 

 main forras of crime in England and Wales during- tlie time of the 

 South African war and years previous and subsequent to that time. 



If we regard with some authoritics, that the true criterion of crime 

 is the number of persons tried for indictable ofíences, that is the 

 most serious crime, the table shows under this head, that there was 

 a decided decrease in crime during the ñrst year (1899) of the war 

 (that is, from 1898 the time of peace), and after this, an iucrease con- 

 tinuing into peace periods. This decrease in the first year of the war 

 many be accounted for by the fact, that reserves were called out, gi- 

 ving occupation to many, whe might have been driven into crime by 

 destitution. There were, for instance, 600 reservists on the London 

 pólice forcé, and their absence may have called fewer offenders to 

 have been apprehended according to the English statisticians. 



On the whole, there was in the South African war time a decrease 

 in the less serious, as shown by the percentages for those on trial for 

 non-indictable ofíences. It illustrates the idea that the brutality ne- 

 cessarily connected with all Avar, aftords an outlet to a certain amount 

 of criminal brutality, which otherwise might have increased crime. 

 As a further support of this theory, it will be noted, that assaults, 

 which usually require brutality, gradually decreased in a markedde- 

 gree from the very outset of the war, continuing through the war, 

 years into peace time (1903). Many ofíences against the person are 

 of a brutal character; these also decreased generally after 1898, but 

 e8])ecially during the ñrst two years of the war. 



The large increase in drunkenness in 1903 is accounted for by the 

 return of army reservists and militia from the seat of war, many of 

 whom had i3lenty of money, which was spent in drink, some celebrat- 

 ing with their rewards and money bounties. 



• The sudden decrease in ofíences against the educational acts after 

 the year 1900, in mainly accounted for by more rigid engercement of 

 the law as suggested by the relatively large number tried in 1899 

 and 1900. 



* While the figures in the tables are based upon official returns, their arran- 

 gement and in many instances percentages aud proportions are the author's. 

 See Judicial Statistics, England and Wales, 1904. 



