HC Deb 14 November 1957 vol 577 cc1129-31
30 and 31. Sir T. Moore

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how long Her Majesty's Government propose to retain the Homicide Act on the Statute Book, in view of the fact that crimes of murder have so substantially increased since it was passed; and

(2) if he will state the number of murders which have been committed in this country since 31st May last; and how this figure compares with the number committed during the similar period prior to 31st May.

34. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment what has been the monthly rate of murders to the latest available date from 1st April, 1957; and what were the comparative figures for the year 1955.

39. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the increased number of murders, he will reintroduce the death penalty for all murders.

66. Sir J. Lucas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of murders committed since the abolition of the death penalty, and also the figures for an equal period immediately before the abolition.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of murders recorded as known to the police in England and Wales for each month since the beginning of 1950. It will be seen from this that the figures normally fluctuate considerably from month to month. The number of murders recorded as known to the police for each of the six months April to September this year were, respectively, 27, 21, 34, 15, 20 and 11, a total of 128, compared with a total of 82 for the corresponding period in 1955. It is too soon to assess the effect of the Homicide Act or to contemplate a further change in the law.

Sir T. Moore

Does not this increase clearly show that the death penalty was a deterrent? How many more murders must be committed before the Government realise that in this particular case they made a grave mistake?

Mr. Butler

The House passed the Homicide Act and I think it is far too soon to contemplate a change in the law. The position about numbers of murders is that they fluctuate. I am not underestimating the gravity of the figures I have given, which even in my oral Answer I tried to particularise to show the increase, but we must see whether this is a fluctuation before we start envisaging a change in the law.

Mrs. Jeger

Can the Home Secretary tell us if there were not, regrettably, even bigger figures before the Homicide Act was passed?

Mr. Butler

I should need notice of particular dates in order to be quite exact in giving that information.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

As I think these figures do definitely show an increase as compared with 1955, before the Motion on this subject was discussed in this House, and as this increase no doubt partly arises from the partial abolition of the death penalty, would not my right hon. Friend agree that this House did well in refusing the demand for the complete abolition of the death penalty?

Mr. Butler

I do not want to enter into further controversy on this subject. The number of children murdered between the date of the Homicide Act coming into force and 30th September was 32, compared with 34 in the same period of 1955, so it will be seen that it is difficult for the house to gather the exact significance of these things from mere figures.

Brigadier Clarke

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that, as the law now stands, a murderer committed to jail for life today can come out in time to murder a child born today in twelve and a half years' time?

Mr. Butler

I think that all depends on circumstances. I do not underestimate the seriousness of the observations of my

NUMBER OF MURDERS RECORDED AS KNOWN TO THE POLICE IN ENGLAND AND WALES (INCLUDING CASES SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND NOT TO BE MURDERS)
— Jan. Feb. Mar. Apl. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total
1950 … 12 17 17 12 11 19 15 21 12 5 8 16 165
1951 … 17 9 11 11 9 10 20 13 9 10 19 19 157
1952 … 10 10 19 19 13 20 18 13 11 14 17 16 180
1953 … 19 22 17 13 12 18 14 9 15 12 11 12 174
1954 … 9 12 19 15 20 13 3 7 22 14 19 13 166
1955 … 8 19 22 15 15 7 12 13 14 6 13 8 152
1956 … 10 13 17 12 16 15 15 11 13 24 14 19 179
1957 … 13 13 21*† 27 21 34 15 20 11 — — — —
* Including 11 recorded as crimes known to the police prior to 21st March.
† In addition there was one case of manslaughter under S.4 of the Homide Act which would previously have been recorded as murder.