§ 18. Mr. Awdryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of cases of burglary known to the police in England for the year ended 1st July, 1964, and the number of those cases in which criminal proceedings were initiated.
§ Miss BaconThe number of offences of burglary known to the police in England during the period 1st July, 1963, to 30th June, 1964, was 6,847. The num- 378 ber of persons proceeded against for burglary during this period was 1,703. Information as to the number of offences covered by these proceedings is not available.
§ Mr. AwdryDoes the Minister agree that one of the main reasons for this great increase in crime is that so many criminals, as is clear from her Answer, are never caught? Has she any plans to deal with the situation?
§ Miss BaconWe have at the moment a crime prevention campaign and we are urgently trying to get more police so that we can detect as many criminals as possible. My right hon. Friend is giving his most urgent attention to this difficult problem.
§ Sir B. JannerIs my right hon. Friend aware that if householders would only help the police by protecting their possessions in the manner that the police advise, much of the crime that takes place would be avoided? Will my right hon. Friend make as public as possible what those precautions are and should be?
§ Miss BaconThat is precisely what we are doing with the crime prevention campaign which is now in operation.