HC Deb 22 June 1995 vol 262 cc468-9
9. Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding recorded crime in 1994; and if he will make a statement. [28405]

Mr. Howard

I have received a number of representations on recorded crime. Although the level is still far too high, the reduction in the past two years has been the biggest for 40 years and I congratulate the police on their success in that achievement.

Mr. Ainsworth

My right hon. and learned Friend will know that burglary is one of the most distressing crimes. Is he aware that last year the number of burglaries in Surrey fell by 21 per cent? Will he join me in paying tribute not only to the police but also to the often unsung heroes on the crime prevention panels who do so much good in the fight against crime?

Mr. Howard

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend and I am grateful to him for emphasising the importance of crime prevention panels. The truth is that we shall make the greatest progress in the fight against crime when we have a real partnership between the police and the public. The strides that have been made in coping with crime across the country, particularly in Surrey, demonstrate exactly what can be done.

Mr. Sheerman

How reliable are the crime statistics? Is it not a fact that in most constituencies victims of burglary are so sick of being burgled that they do not even bother to report it? The fact is that crime is spiralling and burglary is spiralling, but people do not bother to report it to the police.

Mr. Howard

It is a remarkable fact that when recorded crime was rising we did not hear any complaints from Labour Members about the reliability of the figures, but now that it is falling—as a result of effective work by the police—the Opposition are keen to rubbish the figures at any and every opportunity. If the hon. Gentleman does not think that the figures in his area are reliable, I suggest that he take up the matter with his chief constable.

Mr. Stephen

Will my right hon. and learned Friend discuss with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment ways in which the building regulations could be changed to ensure that new houses and flats are built in such a way as to be as secure as possible against burglary?

Mr. Howard

My hon. Friend makes an important point. We have made considerable progress in recent years in incorporating crime prevention features in building design. I dare say that more than be done. As my hon. Friend suggests, I will take the matter up with my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Straw

Does the Secretary of State recognise that in 1994 the crime rate was still double what it was when Labour left office in 1979? A key reason for the doubling of crime has been the huge increase in the amount of harassment and intimidation of local communities by anti-social criminal neighbours. In view of that fact, will the Secretary of State recognise the total inadequacy of current provision? Instead of arguing complacently that there is no need for changes in the law of the kind that Labour has proposed, why does he not give our proposals the same wholehearted welcome as they received from the Police Superintendents Association for England and Wales on Tuesday and recognise that our proposals in "The Quiet Life" document tackle the root of the problem of anti-social, criminal activity in neighbourhoods?

Mr. Howard

Because the hon. Gentleman knows full well that the proposals that he announced this week add nothing to those measures which are already part of our law and those which we have announced already. If we take the two together, all that we have is a bit of pretence of precisely the kind that we have come to expect from the Labour party on this and on other matters.

Mr. Elletson

Does my right hon. and learned Friend realise that much of the recorded crime in my constituency and other coastal resorts throughout the country is committed by the thugs, louts and yobboes who have been imported into those areas to live in the hundreds of DSS hostels that have sprung up all over the place? Will he ensure that the Government take proper account of that fact in their response to the consultation paper on licensing DSS hostels?

Mr. Howard

My hon. Friend makes an important point and a large number of hon. Members will have great sympathy with him. I certainly accept that it should be taken into account in the response to the document to which he referred.