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Speak to anyone who lived in Jersey in and before the 1960s and they will happily tell you of when they could leave their front door open and car keys in the ignition. Sadly, over time, crime has increased or perhaps evolved.
Part of that is inevitably because of the growing population, and, perhaps, a decline in the close-knit communities that once defined Jersey. New types of offending also emerge as technology advances. Computer-related crimes just weren’t ‘a thing’ in the 1940s and 50s.
As a lawyer who deals with a fair proportion of criminal law in my daily practice, I notice offending trends over time, but acknowledge that these observations may not be statistically accurate. They may be mere merely generalisations resulting from a spate of cases that have come to my attention. Nevertheless, I do believe there has been a noticeable increase in three types of offending – crimes which now present the greatest risk to the public...
The first is probably obvious...
This can range from obtaining and exploiting someone's financial details, extorting money by deception – whether via emotional pleas for help or outright blackmail. On a grander scale, it includes hijacking companies' data and holding them to ransom. The risk to the public is obvious, and the crimes can be particularly unpleasant when they target emotionally vulnerable people such as the elderly, lonely or naïve.
I doubt that anyone will be surprised by this observation, since internet crime is so often reported and there are so many warnings issued by the police, government and other organisations.
The next two types of offending may be less conspicuous in Jersey, but I do believe there has been a noticeable increase....
It is not just drink-driving that endangers pedestrians and cyclists – speeding and erratic driving play a significant role too. I have represented clients who have caused serious injury to pedestrians and read media reports on tragic and upsetting incidents, such as the recent death of a father and young son.
Sometimes I leave my office late – perhaps 10pm or 11pm – and see cars whizzing and screeching around corners. A small loss of control can have devastating consequences. I've become so concerned about safety that I no longer consider it safe to walk on a pavement unless it is bordered by parked cars, and prefer to walk in pedestrian areas. If I were a parent with young children, I would be very concerned walking along a roadside after 5pm.
I've never been a fan of speed cameras, but I think the time has come to introduce them, alongside traffic-calming measures. The result of careless or dangerous driving can be death or serious, life-changing injuries and so heavy sentences after the event only go some way to dealing with the problem.
Lower speed limits will not reduce or prevent this time of crime for the simple reason that those who are drunk or already drive at excessive speeds will not obey, so a sudden introduction of 20mph zones will not be useful.
However, working on the premise that offenders are probably those who habitually drive erratically or at speed then the solution is catching them before they cause harm. Speed cameras will catch speeders and in appropriate circumstances warrant forfeiture of a driving licence and/or other measures. A database for car registrations and insurance would also make checks for valid insurance easier to carry out when cars are on the move.
The last noticeable increase is...
More and more individuals are going for a night out carrying knives. There has always been a risk of assault by hooligans late at night on the streets of St Helier – but now there is the added danger of being stabbed.
Unless steps are taken to nip this in the bud, we are going to become like the UK where offenders carry machetes down their trousers and where disagreements once resolved by punching and kicking are resolved by blades.
I admit I am raising a problem without a solution.
Harsher sentences would be a start, but this wouldn't necessarily tackle offending itself as criminals often don't consider consequences. Maybe we introduce metal detectors at pubs and clubs? I wouldn't object to being 'screened' for the greater good. But would this stop the determined from 'tooling up' with ceramic knives instead?
Regardless, it's a worrying trend and urgent action is imperative.
This column first appeared in the November edition of Connect Magazine – read it in full below...
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