1. Mr. Leslie Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of cases of wilful criminal homicide reported to the police for the periods, 16th April to 18th November, in the years 1947, 1948 and 1949, respectively.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)I regret that it is not possible to give figures for this exact period during the three years in question; but the number of murders reported to the police in England and Wales during the period from 1st April to 30th November in each of these three years was 139 in 1947, 128 in 1948, and 101 in 1949. These figures include some cases which were subsequently established to be crimes other than murder, for example, manslaughter and infanticide.
Mr. HaleWill my right hon. Friend therefore, agree that these figures show that during the period when capital punishment was abolished there was a diminution in capital crime, and that that good result still continues notwithstanding the restoration of capital punishment.
§ Mr. EdeWhen I looked at these three sets of figures I thought that every person who read them would draw different interpretations from them. I do not intend to quarrel with my hon. Friend's interpretation, although I do not necessarily agree with it.
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanIs it not, however, quite clear that, no matter how people may differently interpret them, the figures show beyond controversy that there was no increase during the period when capital punishment was not imposed?
§ Mr. EdeYes, Sir, I think that can be said, but the three sets of figures taken together also bear out the contention which I have advanced in this House, that crimes of personal violence are diminishing by comparison with a few years ago.