§ 34. Mr. Hirstasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many people in the Strathclyde region were charged with serious offences in 1984; and how this figure compares with those of the previous five years.
§ The Solicitor-General for Scotland (Mr. Peter Fraser)Taking serious offences as those prosecuted under solemn procedure, 2,287 persons were prosecuted in this way in Strathclyde region in 1984. This compares with figures of 2,297 in 1983, 2,531 in 1982, 1,774 in 1981, 2,369 in 1980 and 1,711 in 1979. Industrial action by sheriff clerks' staff in 1979 and 1981 is likely to have affected the figures for those years and for 1980 and 1982.
§ Mr. HirstDoes my hon. and learned Friend agree that the disquieting extent of serious crime in Strathclyde is such that it is highly irresponsible for Strathclyde regional council to refuse to bring up police numbers to establishment strength? Will my hon. and learned Friend and his ministerial colleagues use all their influence to persuade Strathclyde regional council to employ more policemen and get them back on the beat?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandNothing in the crime figures for Strathclyde that I have given wculd justify any decision to withhold officers from the police force in Strathclyde. Last year the chief constable of Strathclyde took a number of important initiatives in crime prevention, especially in the areas of worst deprivation. I should have thought that the regional authority would want to give every possible encouragement to those initiatives.