§ 12. Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the special branch of the Metropolitan police.
§ Mr. BrittanYes, Sir.
§ Mr. WinnickFew people would dispute the need for the special branch, especially in view of terrorism, but is the Home Secretary aware that aspects of recent special branch operations give rise to considerable disquiet? Why is the Home Secretary opposed to a Select Committee looking into the operations of the special branch?
§ Mr. BrittanI understand the hon. Gentleman's concern, which he has expressed in the past, but I do not believe that anything that he has brought to light justifies such an inquiry or makes it likely to yield useful results.
§ Mr. NichollsDoes my right hon. and learned Friend accept that the national crime statistics to which he has referred today and the figures published in February in relation the Metropolitan police show that it is a very efficient organisation, in which the special branch plays a valuable part?
§ Mr. BrittanYes, I believe that that is so. It is notable that the figures published today show a fall in recorded crime of 1 per cent. following increases of 10 per cent. in the two previous years. I know that the House will be especially impressed by the fact that robberies were down by 3 per cent. in 1983 and that murders decreased substantially.
§ Mr. DobsonCan the Secretary of State confirm that the number of crimes cleared up by the average Metropolitan police officer is 4.2 per year?
§ Mr. BrittanThe detection rate can be improved and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is taking firm measures to improve efficiency in crime detection. The figures speak for themselves. It is remarkable, for example, that the stealing of motor vehicles increased by an average of 7 per cent. per year for a decade but fell by 7 per cent. in the past year.
§ Mr. TraceyIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that most law-abiding members of the community very much value the work of the special branch and accept that those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear?
§ Mr. BrittanI have found widespread public understanding of the value of the special branch and I have no doubt at all that, in relation to both public order and terrorism, the country would be a much less safe place if the special branch was not doing its work.