"Commercialization" of the Yorkshire Ripper

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts

November 2, 1979, Friday

Copyright 1979 The British Broadcasting Corporation

Section: Part 1 The USSR; A. International Affairs; 1. General and Western Affairs; SU/6261/A1/1;
Length: 284 words

Body

Text of dispatch from London entitled, "Fear money" (SU/6260/i):

The "Yorkshire Ripper", who has chalked up 12 victims with his terrible "trade mark" - a lacerated knife wound - is
still at large. Every day the policy appeals to Britons to beware.
Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union in Russian for abroad 1116 gmt 31 Oct 79

SU/6260/i
They have gone all out to find the murderer; 178,000 people have been attempts to locate the criminal have yielded
no results.

Inspired by this, the murderer sent a tape recording to a police station mocking the helplessness (?of the police). (?
In the area) of Britain where the "Yorkshire Ripper" is active, cars with loud-speakers make the rounds in the hope
that someone will be able to recognize the criminal's voice. Britons are living in fear and try not to leave their
homes in the evenings.

At the same time, there are people to be found who use the atmosphere of general fear and the "feats" of the
"Yorkshire Ripper" for their own selfish ends. The owners of discotheques and bars play the voice of the
"Yorkshire Ripper" on their premises. According to the local press, the recording has become as popular as the
records of the well-known singer Donna Summer. The comperes of variety shows get on the people's nerves with
their vulgar jokes about the murderer. The BBC has put on a radio play gloating over his adventures.

THe commercialization of the "Yorkshire Ripper", who is instilling terror in the population of Northern England, is a
routine matter for a capitalist society, where there are always people to be found who are ready to make money
from base sentiments. While they are doing business, the murderer is probably seeking out another victim.

Classification
Language: ENGLISH

Subject: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & NATIONAL SECURITY (78%); INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE (73%);
CUTS & ABRASIONS (72%); WOUNDS & INJURIES (72%); POLICE FORCES (69%)

Industry: BROADCASTING INDUSTRY (89%); PUBLIC BROADCASTING (79%); NIGHTCLUBS (66%)

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"Commercialization" of the Yorkshire Ripper

Geographic: LONDON, ENGLAND (58%); UNITED KINGDOM (94%); ENGLAND (78%); RUSSIAN FEDERATION
(58%)

End of Document