§ 14. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the percentage of persons ultimately arrested and convicted for reported crimes of housebreaking and house burglary for the past three years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesInformation in this form is not available. The percentages of offences of housebreaking and burglary cleared up in the last three years in England and Wales were: 1966, 32.4; 1967, 33; and 1968, 33.2.
§ Mr. SmithAre not these figures woefully low? Does the hon. Gentleman agree that, whatever the arguments on capital punishment, violence or growing hooliganism, the chief crime against society today is housebreaking, which is on the increase? Will he give further consideration to collecting these valuable statistics?
§ Mr. ReesThe hon. Gentleman will notice that there is a modest increase in clearing up these cases. He must take into account that, by their very nature, it is more difficult to detect larcenies and break-ins than, for example, perjury or bigamy where there might be a higher proportion of detection.
§ Mr. CarlisleDoes the Minister agree that this disturbing lack of detection of 1531 crime, particularly in the London area, is probably a major cause of crime, because so many people are getting away with it?
§ Mr. ReesI have given figures which show that the detection rate is going up. I repeat that, by their very nature and the development of housing over a wider area, detection is made very difficult in this sphere.