HC Deb 15 February 1999 vol 325 cc595-6
11. Mr. David Amess (Southend, West)

What recent representations he has received on the rate of crime detection in the United Kingdom. [69115]

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Jack Straw)

We regularly receive representations from hon. Members, members of the public and others about crime issues, including the detection rate.

Mr. Amess

Is the Home Secretary aware that fewer crimes than ever will be detected in Essex as a result of the wholly inadequate funding provided by the Government? Why did the Home Secretary give Essex one of the worst four settlements in the country—an increase of only 1.7 per cent., effectively a cut of £7 million—especially in the light of the extra burdens, costing £1 million, caused by the four extra bank holidays? Why has he got it in for Essex, the very county that was responsible for educating him? Will he pull himself together and give Essex the tools to be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime?

Mr. Straw

I hope that the hon. Gentleman feels better for that rant. Calmly, as an Essex man, I shall give him a few facts which are contrary to his assertions. His claim about Essex's alleged underfunding is wrong. Essex received an increase of 2.9 per cent., which is above, not below, the rate of inflation. Also, there is absolutely no warrant for his claim that, as a result, Essex police officers will detect fewer crimes.

I am astonished that Conservative Members should seek to excuse inefficiency in the police service alone of all public services. When we were in opposition, Conservatives often—quite rightly—lectured us on the need to secure efficiency in health, education and other local authority services. When one or two of my hon. Friends ill-advisedly went around suggesting that there were to be large cuts in staff and therefore in the outputs and efficiencies as a result of the dreadful Tory cuts, Conservative Ministers were rightly sceptical, and some of us on the Opposition Front Bench used to squirm with embarrassment at the extravagance of the claims made by those behind us.

The same efficiency disciplines must apply to the police service as apply to every other public service, especially against a background in which, as the Audit Commission pointed out in its latest assessment of key performance indicators, it is the police service which, year on year, has had real-terms increases in its inputs, although there is no necessary correlation between the amount of money allocated and the clear-up rates or detection of crime. The police's agenda must now be to raise the level of all services to that of the best.

Mr. Peter L. Pike (Burnley)

I must tell my right hon. Friend that I have a more than particular interest in this matter today, having had my constituency office broken into last night. We talk about the detection rate, but what about the rate of crime reported to the police? Are not many crimes not reported because people feel that there is little point in doing so as nothing will happen?

Mr. Straw

The level of the recording of crime varies considerably as between the types of crime. There is a pretty high level of recording of domestic burglary and of thefts of motor vehicles, not least because many of the items stolen are of high value, and there are insurance consequences of not reporting such thefts. There are relatively low levels of reporting of, for example, theft from cars, as opposed to theft of cars. Overall, the evidence from the British crime survey, which assesses total levels of crime, suggests that the reporting of crimes has increased as people have more confidence in the police to solve those crimes.