§ 41. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the figures for the number of crimes in Palestine in 1920 and 1928; and whether he can account for the increase in the figures?
§ Dr. SHIELSIt is difficult to make the comparison desired. In 1921, the first year for which figures are available, the number of crimes classified as "heinous" was 650. In 1928, 944 crimes occurred which were classified as "serious." But in the interval—apart from the increase in population—there had been much legislation affecting the number of indictable offences, and in particular the later figure includes no less than 356 cases of "malicious damage to property," a category which first appears in 1926.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYDoes not this malicious damage to property arise out of the Arabs being dispossessed of their ancient lands?