§ 2. Mr. Eyreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the rise in numbers of offences against persons and property in the Midlands over the past five years.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dr. Shirley Summerskill)Between 1971 and 1976, there was a rise of 26 per cent. in the number of indictable offences against persons and property recorded by the police in the West Midlands and East Midlands standard regions. This excludes Lincolnshire, which in 1971 included what is now South Humberside. This increase, though in itself disturbing is slightly lower than that for England and Wales as a whole.
§ Mr. EyreAgainst this deeply disturbing background, are the police establishment numbers realistically adequate in the densely-populated urban areas? Is the Minister aware that the West Midlands police force is now no fewer than 745 short of its established strength of 6,500 officers? How can the police adequately patrol the trouble areas in such circumstance, when what the people need is more protection in their home areas?
§ Dr. SummerskillIn spite of what the hon. Gentleman says, there has been a 889 10 per cent. increase in the strength of the West Midlands police force since the 1974 boundary changes. This is well above the national average, which is 7–8 per cent. I would also remind him of the recently-announced increase of an extra £9 million in the law and order budget.