HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 cc389-90
10. Ms Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from the London SW1 postal district about the relationship between law enforcement and rising crime.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Records of representations are not kept by postal district.

Ms Eagle

Does the Minister agree with the gracious Queen of Belize, who is normally resident in SW1, who recently said that increasing levels of crime—

Madam Speaker

Order. I have to remind the hon. Lady that we do not invoke the name of the Queen in debate. Can she rephrase her—[Interruption.] The Queen of Belize is also a member of a royal family.

Ms Eagle

Does the Minister agree with the comments made by a well-known resident of SW1 that increased crime prevention will not solve rising crime levels unless it is accompanied by a look at the root causes of the disease?

Mr. Wardle

I am sure that the hon. Lady will be pleased to know that recorded crime in London SW1 has dropped by 8 per cent. in the past two years. As for the reasons for crime, the hon. Lady will also be pleased to hear that sub-groups of the National Board for Crime Prevention are examining precisely those matters. One in particular that will command increasing attention is the problem of repeat victimisation.

Mr. Heald

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the crime issues in SW1 is terrorism? Would he care to pay tribute to the police who have protected us in SW1 in recent years? Has he received any message from the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) to the effect that he is now prepared to fight for the measures that the police want to fight terrorism—the emergency powers legislation that we passed last night, particularly in the light of the Heathrow bombing incident?

Mr. Wardle

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The pattern of voting in the House yesterday will undoubtedly command wide attention. As for the terrorist action, the terrorists achieved nothing yesterday and they will achieve nothing other than futile suffering.

Mr. Madden

Will the Minister tell the people of SW1 whether tomorrow the Government will support or oppose the Bill being sponsored by his hon. Friend the Member for Finchley (Mr. Booth)?

Mr. Wardle

As I said in response to an earlier question, the Government will consider the response of the Select Committee in due course.