NINO STAFFA CONTROLLING THE « PROBLEM » David Eversley, one of the most outspoken « deprivation experts » in London, outlined what he saw as the potential problem far Britain's cities. « These is now a large group of people whose incomes are not sufficient to maintain life without substantial special help. These people depend on means-tested benefìts of one kind or another ... ever increasing tracts of our older cities could be inhabited by such people ... But if we do allow such a new urban under-class to emerge the consequences will be severe. There will be a permanent housing problem, nomadism, an unstable family life. There could be increased tension, especially, on an ethnic basis. Dereliction, abandoned old premises, failure to build new property and maintain the old will lead to progressive blight and decay » (12). Far the state urban poverty presents the problem of controlling crime, juvenile delinquency, and in cities with substantial immigrant populations, potential race riots. Robert Carr speaking in parliament in 1973 indicated that he saw « crime », the « urban problem » and « social ferment » as part of the same area of concern. « The urban problem is fundamental to the problems of our society and the level of crime in our society ... The.level of crime is only the visible tip of the iceberg of social ferment lying beneath ». (13). Dealing with the crime and violence which has already manifested itself in British cities is a matter of utilising the existing farces of law and arder, and accordingly between 1951 and 1973 the expenditure on law and arder as a proportion of total public expenditure more than doubled. In 1951 0.6% of public expenditure was spent on law and arder but by 1973 the proportion was 1.4%. During the early 1960's the Home Office was developing new farms of social control of which the « poverty programme » is an integra! part. « Concern » far the inner city« problem » seems to be more directly concerned with preventing violence against the status quo rather than improving the living conditions of poor people who, in any case have « only themselves to blame far their poverty ». The lngleby Report of 1960 on Children and Young Persons (12) David Eversley, Urban Problems in Britain Today, from Gilding the Ghetto, p. 37. (13) Hansard 1-11-73,Robert Carr- Home Secretary. 18
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