Although British criminological research in the 1960's and early 1970's was almost wholly within the positivist tradition, deviancy theorists and Marxists are now engaged in a substantial amount of such research. From the establishment of the Home Office Research Unit in 1958, the central government has strongly influenced the development of criminological research through its funding of major research institutions in the field. The current research program of the Home Office Research and Planning Unit focuses on crime patterns and determinants; crime prevention and policing; the interdependence of criminal justice system components; prisons, probation, and offender treatment; and immigration, race relations, and community programs. Australian criminological research differs from that in the United Kingdom in its lack of reliable and comprehensive crime statistics as a resource. Also, criminological research in Australia is more ad hoc in dealing with particular matters; whereas, the United Kingdom uses research to inform broad policy areas.