HC Deb 10 March 1893 vol 9 cc1598-9
MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the numbers of the following crimes committed in England during the last 12 months, for which Returns are complete, namely, arson and other wilful burning; killing and maiming cattle; maliciously destroying fences, walls, ? and other malicious and wilful damage?

MR. ASQUITH

The numbers of the following crimes committed (so far as known to the police) during the 12 months ended 29th September, 1892, are:—

England and Wales. England only.
Arson and other willful burning 364 352
Killing and maiming cattle 28 28
Maliciously destroying fences, walls, &c. (Offences determined summarily) 2,644 2,478
Other malicious and wilful damage:—If the heading "Other Malicious and Wilful Damage and Trespass" in Table 8 of the Judicial Statistics is referred to 13,718 12,493
If the number of malicious and wilful damage cases other than the three above named is required 16,495 15,219

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the numbers of the following crimes committed (so far as known to the police) in England during the last 12 months, for which the Returns are complete:—namely, murder (not including infants under one year); manslaughter; attempts at murder; shooting at, wounding, and stabbing; assaults on peace officers?

MR. ASQUITH

The figures are as follows:—

England and Wales. England only.
Murder (not including infants under 1 year) 73 71
Manslaughter 160 151
Attempts to murder ("Attempts at Murder" in the question) 86 72
Shooting at, wounding, stabbing, &c, to do bodily harm. (" Shooting at, wounding, and 'stabbing'" in the question) 819 741
Assaults on peace officers. (Indictable offences) 41 40
Assaults on peace officers, resisting, obstructing, &c. (Offences determined summarily) 12,635 11,947

MR. FLYNN

May I ask if, in view of these figures, the Government have any intention of considering the propriety of extending the Criminal Law and Procedure Act to England?

[No answer was given.]

MR. STUART-WORTLEY

I beg to ask the Home Secretary whether the Returns of the Prison Commission for England and Wales do not show that persons of Irish birth and parentage, who form 2 per cent, of the population, form also 10 per cent, of the prison population?

MR. ASQUITH

The hon. Gentleman must give notice of that question.