3. Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of burglaries on (a) private properties and (b) commercial properties in the West Yorkshire area and in England and Wales for each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. David Maclean)The figures the hon. Member seeks are rounded as follows. Reported burglaries in a dwelling in West Yorkshire: 42,000, 52,000, 58,000. Other reported burglaries in West Yorkshire: 37,000, 38,000, 36,000.Reported burglaries in a dwelling in England and Wales: 625,000, 708,000, 728,000. Other reported burglaries in England and Wales: 595,000, 647,000, 642,000.
My right hon. and learned Friend has made an increase in the number of detections for domestic burglary a national key objective of the police in 1994–95.
Mr. O'BrienDoes not that reveal that the Conservatives have lost the fight against crime? In West Yorkshire, the numbers of burglaries are significant and there was a 5 per cent. increase last year. When will the Minister do something to improve safety for my constituents? When will the Government introduce the Morgan report, which gives local authorities some responsibility for combating crime? Does the Minister accept that high unemployment in West Yorkshire has an influence on crime?
§ Mr. MacleanI do not know where the hon. Gentleman has been this week. We announced that crime overall in West Yorkshire fell by 1 per cent. last year. [Interruption.] If the Opposition care to listen, since December 1993, domestic burglaries in West Yorkshire have dropped by 6 per cent. and non-residential burglaries by 14.5 per cent. In the Wakefield division, which includes Normanton, there was a drop of 19.6 per cent. in domestic burglaries in the first three months of this year. When will the hon. Gentleman welcome that trend?
§ Dr. HampsonIs my hon. Friend aware that people in West Yorkshire, and particularly Leeds, are conscious that the West Yorkshire force has done amazingly well, despite the fact that it has had great difficulties, largely because of a huge capital building programme which squeezes its revenue account? If he also aware that if we compare the figures for West Yorkshire with those for South Yorkshire last year, they show a reduction in West Yorkshire and a 14 per cent. increase in South Yorkshire?
§ Mr. MacleanMy hon. Friend is right to draw attention to that fact. West Yorkshire police have been tremendously successful in the fight against crime. Where the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) does damage not only to his constituents but to the constituencies of all hon. Members is when he says that one cannot succeed in the fight against crime. The figures that we announced this week show that we can make an impact and we are not condemned to ever-rising crime. By sensibly targeting our resources, we can make a difference.
§ Mr. HardyI do not wish to get involved in bandying arguments about the achievements in West and South Yorkshire, where a high detection rate has been achieved over a long time. Would the Minister care to comment on the fact that it is essential that if burglars are caught, perhaps even red-handed, they should then be brought to court and convicted? Would he care to tell the House how the conviction rate compares with the rate of arrests?
§ Mr. MacleanI agree entirely that we need all approaches to crime to work. That is a successful police force. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home 1025 Secretary has introduced changes in the Police and Magistrates Courts' Bill to that effect. We need improved detection rates and measures in the criminal courts to ensure that those who are guilty of crime are convicted.
§ Mr. MacleanIn that case, the hon. Gentleman should have a word with his hon. Friends who abstained on the Third Reading of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill and others in his party who voted against the very measures for which he calls.
§ Sir Donald ThompsonWest Yorkshire welcomes increased funding, but we hear perpetually that we could do with another 200 policemen there. Would my hon. Friend like to comment on that?
§ Mr. MacleanThere are vacancies for police officers in the West Yorkshire force. The figures have fallen dramatically in the past few months. The vacancy rate is down to 246 from a figure that was up in the 320s. Of course we all want to encourage the West Yorkshire force to deploy its resources to the maximum effect. The success in recent months on burglary seems to show that, with the present resources, the chief constable there is making a pretty good job of it.