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51
Violent Deaths
As a classification, the term "violent death" includes those deaths
arising from motor vehicle accidents, suicide, homicide and "other
forms" of accident.
During 1967 there were 88 deaths from violence in the Borough,
giving a rate of 0.38 per 1,000 population compared with a rate of
0.49 for England and Wales and 0.43 for Greater London.
Motor Vehicle Accidents.—Road accidents, which are now the
commonest cause of death in adolescents and young adults, were
responsible for 7,160 deaths in England and Wales during the year.
This represents a 4% improvement over the previous year when
the total was 7,454.
Justifiably, much has been made of the serious nature of the
increase in deaths from cancer and heart disease but it must be
recognised that, from a national and economic standpoint, a child
who is killed in a road accident is a greater potential loss to the
community than a person over 65 years who dies from either of
the other causes.
Thirty-two persons in the Borough died from motor vehicle accidents
during 1967, an increase of 4 over those recorded for the
previous year. The calculated rate of 0.13 compares with 0.15 and
0.12, the rates for England and Wales and Greater London
respectively.
Suicide.—Contrary to general belief, suicide continues to claim
a substantial number of victims. In England and Wales, the number
of suicides during 1967 amounted to the formidable figure of 4,712,
giving a rate of 0.10 per 1,000 population. Moreover, of this total,
more than one fifth, viz. 962, were recorded in London, giving a
rate of 0.12 compared with 17 deaths and a rate of 0.07 for
Greenwich.
Figures for London in particular throw into relief a psychiatric
problem which is becoming very familiar in the cities of countries
which sustain high living standards, for deaths from suicide in the
Metropolis were more than twice those for tuberculosis and equal
to the total deaths from road accidents.
Homicide.—Two deaths were recorded during the year, both as
a result of stab wounds. One, a youth of 19, died after being stabbed
in the chest and the other, a man of 32 years, who suffered abdominal
injuries. A conviction for murder was subsequently obtained
in the latter case.
All Other Accidents.—The remaining deaths from violence in the
Borough, viz. 37, give a rate of 0.16 per 1,000 population which