HC Deb 13 April 1961 vol 638 cc465-6
11. Sir T. Moore

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of crimes of violence, including rape, since the Homicide Act became law up to the end of January, 1961; and how that figure compares with the same period before that Act was passed.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Dennis Vosper)

I regret that figures for the precise periods mentioned by my hon. Friend are not available. The Homicide Act came into force on 21st March, 1957. The number of indictable offences known to the police under the headings of murder, attempt to murder, threats or conspiracy to murder, manslaughter, felonious and malicious wounding, assault, rape, indecent assault on a female, and robbery, was 95,064 in the four years 1957 to 1960 and 65,972 in the four years 1953 to 1956.

Sir T. Moore

In view of these very significant figures, does my right hon. Friend think there is any significance in the fact that sexual offences against children and young girls seem, anyhow, to have increased since men have been deprived of the easy, co-operative and accessible solution of their sexual needs such as the Homicide Act brought into being?

Mr. Vosper

I do not think that we can deduce from the figures I gave to my hon. Friend that the Homicide Act has made any considerable impact on the figures I mentioned. This increasing trend has been in operation since 1954 and has been spread very evenly over six years.

Sir T. Moore

On a point of order. I should like my right hon. Friend to appreciate that that was a slip of the tongue. I should have said "the Street Offences Act".

Mr. Vosper

That hardly arises on this Question, but the answer is in the negative.

Mr. Paget

Is it not a fact that, in spite of the Street Offences Act, those murders which were made capital offences under the Homicide Act have increased at a higher rate than the others?

Mr. Vosper

Yes, that is so.