§ 39. Mr. Fairbairnasked the Lord Advocate what additional staff he has had to recruit to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in order to deal with the increase in crimes of violence in the Strathclyde Region.
§ The Lord AdvocateThe complement of the Crown Office has increased by four since 1976. It is not possible to quantify the extent to which this is due to the increase of crimes of violence in the Strathclyde Region. The complement of the Procurator Fiscal Service in the Strathclyde Region has increased by 45 since 1976. The main reason for this increase is the fact that procurators fiscal were given the additional task of prosecuting in the district courts.
§ Mr. FairbairnAs there were more violent deaths in the Strathclyde Region in the first few months of this year than there were in the whole Province of Northern Ireland, will the Lord Advocate urgently introduce the recommendations of the Thompson Committee and give the police in Scotland powers in respect of six-hour detention, search for offensive weapons, and any other activity that may assist in preventing crimes of violence?
§ The Lord AdvocateThe last part of the hon. and learned Gentleman's question is being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and myself, as are all the recommendations of the Thompson Committee. In approaching these matters we have to weigh carefully the balance between individual 1281 rights and the liberty of the subject, on the one hand, and the very great need to prevent crime, on the other. In regard to the hon. and learned Gentleman's earlier observation, the information that he has repeated to the House came from a former convener of the police committee in Glasgow, who is now chairman of the criminal committee of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Taylor). In examining deaths due to violence in the Strathclyde Region and comparing them with Northern Ireland, it is important to take into account the relative populations. The population of Northern Ireland is only about 60 per cent. of that of the Strathclyde Region, and I should stress that, although there are some indications that there will be an increase in the number of violent deaths in the Strathclyde Region, the trend in criminal violence generally appears to be downward.
§ Mr. CanavanDoes my right hon. and learned Friend agree that there will be an increase in public expenditure caused by the increase in the prison population that will inevitably come about after the next General Election when the hon. and learned Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn) has to return to his former profession as Scotland's worst criminal lawyer?
§ The Lord AdvocateAs the Public Prosecutor, I ought, perhaps, to declare my interest. More seriously, the prison 1282 population is a matter of very great concern. As the Public Prosecutor and, therefore, the agent through whom a large number of people end up in prison, I am bound to recognise that we need to look at methods other than prison for the treatment of offenders.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorHas the right hon. and learned Gentleman seen the report of the Strathclyde police, published this morning, which shows that despite a disturbing increase in crimes of violence the number of police in post in the Strathclyde Region in 1976 fell and that the force was 614 below strength at the end of the year? What are the Minister and his colleagues going to do about this deplorable state of affairs?
§ The Lord AdvocateI have not seen the report, but I shall, of course, read it. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, within whose jurisdiction this matter lies, will no doubt take note of what the hon. Gentleman has said.