§ 25. Sir Hector Monroasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many reports were received by procurators fiscal in respect of serious crimes in the Glasgow area over the most recent period of 12 months; and how many prosecutions resulted in convictions.
§ The Solicitor-General for Scotland (Mr. Peter Fraser)No separate figures are kept to indicate the degree of seriousness of the crimes alleged in reports submitted to procurators fiscal. However, I can advise my hon. Friend that during 1980 the procurator fiscal's office at Glasgow received a total of 76, 811 reports alleging crimes 928 and offences. Of these, 870 cases were considered sufficiently serious to merit proceedings on indictment. The total number of persons proceeded against on indictment in the Glasgow area in 1980 was 1, 311 and the number of persons against whom a charge or charges were proved was 997.
§ Sir Hector MonroHow does Glasgow hope to reduce its level of crime when the Labour-controlled regional council reduces the number of police officers by 50 and switches resources to other departments?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandThe Government's public expenditure White Paper makes it clear that there is full provision for authorised establishments for all forces in Scotland. The Strathclyde regional council has taken its own decision to operate at about 150 below authorised establishment, and that is a matter for it as a police authority. However, it is surely self-evident to all those concerned about law and order in Scotland that it is vital that the police should be at full strength in the area where 50 per cent. of all crime in Scotland is committed.
§ Mr. MillanDoes the Solicitor-General remember the great promises that were made by the Conservative Party during the 1979 election to the effect that it would do wonders for law and order? Does he realise that crime and the number of offences committed showed a reduction in Scotland in 1978 and that since the Government took office they have increased steadily and have now reached record and alarming levels? What will the Government do about it, instead of trying to blame others?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandThe right hon. Gentleman knows well that what I have said is the case. In the arrangement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland there was adequate provision to enable full, authorised establishments in all police forces. The hon. Gentleman is wrong to say that crime figures in Scotland can be demonstrated to be increasing significantly. We all know that because of the strike among sheriffs' clerks last year in Glasgow we are not able to say what the figures are. However, it appears that the figures are down, so far as that has any validity, given the statistical problems.
§ Mr. MillanThe hon. Gentleman knows that crime figures in Glasgow, Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are at record levels. The Government have done nothing about that. There are many unemployed young peole who have time on their hands and no jobs to go to. That must be a significant factor in certain elements of crime, especially offences of house breaking, which are increasing rapidly and causing considerable concern in Glasgow and everywhere else in Scotland.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI can only imagine that what the right hon. Gentleman has had to say relates to tomorrow's by-election. If he is truly concerned about law and order in Glasgow I implore him to make urgent representations to Strathclyde regional council to bring its police force up to full strength. No one who is involved in criminal prosecutions in Scotland underestimates the vital role that the police play in these matters.
§ Mr. PollockIs my hon. Friend aware that one of the main worries in the public's mind at present is the amount of time that can occur between the reporting of an incident 929 and the conclusion of the matter in court? Does he share that concern and has he any proposals that will improve matters?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he has had to say on this subject. There has been a recent experiment conducted by the procurator fiscal in Glasgow to ensure that where there are sheriff and jury trials an adequate number of sheriffs are available to preside at all those trials. This experiment has proved to be extremely successful. A far larger number of pleas of guilty have been obtained, resulting in a saving of time for the police, the courts and the public, especially for witnesses and jurors. The experiment has resulted in a significant saving to the legal aid fund and the public Exchequer generally.