HC Deb 10 March 1932 vol 262 cc1996-7W
Mr. COCKS

asked the Home Secretary how many murders were known to the police in England and Wales during the years 1930 and 1931, respectively; in how many cases the supposed murderer committed suicide; how many persons were proceeded against for murder; how many of such persons were found to be insane before trial or on arraignment, or guilty but insane; how many of such persons were convicted of murder excluding those found guilty but insane; and how many of those convicted of murder were subsequently executed?

Sir H. SAMUEL

The full details desired are not yet available for 1931. In 1930, 108 murders were known to the police, involving 119 victims of whom 22 were newly-born infants whose bodies were found in such circumstances as to afford no clues enabling arrests to be made. Thirty-six suspects committed suicide; 41 were proceeded against; 17 were found to be insane; 14 were convicted and sentenced to death, the sentence being executed on six of them.

Mr. CROSS

asked the Home Secretary how many murders have taken place during the last 12 months in the Metropolitan area; how many arrests have been made; how many convictions secured; and whether he will have inquiries made as to how these results compare with those obtained by provincial police forces?

Sir H. SAMUEL

There were 28 cases of murder in the Metropolitan Police district during the 12 months ended 29th February, 1932, involving the death of 25 adults and six infants. In seven cases the murderers committed suicide. In 15 of the other 21 cases arrests were made. Of the persons arrested six were acquitted, four sentenced to death (two in respect of one murder), three found guilty but insane, and the cases against three were pending. The six cases in which no arrests have yet been made included an unidentified infant and two women who died as the result of illegal operations. I regret that no figures are yet available for other districts, but in any case no useful comparison could be made, because the Metropolitan and other police forces constantly render each other assistance in their inquiries.