HC Deb 06 June 1905 vol 147 cc859-60
MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, in connection with the 9,920 cases of crimes against property with violence committed in England last year, only 3,691 persons were apprehended; and whether any explanation can be offered of the failure of justice in so many cases.

MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS

The figures given by the hon. Member are correct, but it does not follow that there is a failure of justice in any of these cases. The explanation is the very simple one that most of the burglars and housebreakers apprehended have each committed several offences—some of them many offences—before their apprehension.