HC Deb 02 February 1989 vol 146 c420
10. Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the figures for reported crime in Lincolnshire for 1988.

Mr. John Patten

From January to September 1988, the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in Lincolnshire was 25,171, which represents a fall of nearly 5.5 per cent, compared with the same period in 1987, which is 2 per cent, more than the equivalent figures for the whole of England and Wales. That is good news out of Lincolnshire.

Mr. Leigh

These figures are a most welcome vindication of Government policies and commitment to the police. Will my hon. Friend stress that crime prevention is not simply the responsibility of Government but starts at home, that public involvement is needed and that we need to build on excellent schemes such as the neighbourhood watch schemes?

Mr. Patten

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. What has contributed to the rapid fall of crime in Lincolnshire is the growth during the past 12 months of the number of neighbourhood watch schemes from some 400 to some 700 and, equally, the introduction of six juvenile crime prevention panels made up of active citizens helping the police in its task.