HC Deb 19 July 2000 vol 354 cc363-4
3. Mrs. Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest)

If he will make a statement on the current levels of recorded crime in Northern Ireland. [129862]

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Peter Mandelson)

I apologise for the absence of my junior Minister, who is caught on a train somewhere in south London.

The number of recorded crimes for the period April 1999 to March 2000 has increased by 9.2 per cent. against the same period in 1998–99. More than 60 per cent. of the overall rise was accounted for by increases in two crime classes—offences against the person, which went up 16.2 per cent., and criminal damage offences, which rose 12.8 per cent. The number of offences cleared by the police in 1999–2000 was 13.8 per cent. higher than in 1998–99. There was also a rise in the overall clearance rate from 29 per cent. to 30.2 per cent.

Mrs. Laing

While those figures are in some ways worrying, they are also relatively good in comparison with those for some other parts of the United Kingdom. That is a great credit to the RUC, and the Secretary of State was right to praise the force a few moments ago. Does he agree, however, that a worrying fact is concealed behind the statistics in that a great many punishment beatings and mutilations are not recorded crimes because their victims are too afraid to report them?

Mr. Mandelson

The hon. Lady makes a good point. While comparisons are not straightforward, it is clear that the overall crime rate in Northern Ireland is lower than that in other parts of the UK with comparable population sizes. Paramilitary attacks are entirely the opposite of what the Good Friday agreement was all about. I call on all those who have information to co-operate with the police in order to stop those attacks in future. I call on those with influence over paramilitary groups to call a complete and immediate cessation to those barbaric acts.

Dr. Nick Palmer (Broxtowe)

As a member of the Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs, I visited Drumcree and spoke with the police who held the line. Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating the police on keeping the situation within acceptable boundaries this year and on their record in combating disorder and crime in Northern Ireland? Does he agree that once the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill has been enacted, the time will have come to stop looking backwards and quibbling over every detail so that we can work together to ensure that the police have a chance to beat terrorism and crime in Northern Ireland?

Mr. Mandelson

The whole House will agree with my hon. Friend's sentiments. Everyone should look to the future and towards creating the fresh start in policing for which a consensus exists. The events in Drumcree showed that bullies do not get their way in Northern Ireland and that physical force confrontation—by loyalism or republicanism—does not succeed any more in mobilising the mass of people in Northern Ireland. That is a tribute to the peace process and to the strength and durability of the Good Friday agreement.

Rev. Martin Smyth (Belfast, South)

I join those who have congratulated the RUC on its work. Is the Secretary of State aware that the force is under tremendous pressure, not only in dealing with terrorist activity but because of the shortage of funds that leaves many stations not properly manned? Is failure to report republican parades a recorded crime? That is happening, and people are concerned that the law is not being applied impartially.

Mr. Mandelson

The RUC is fairly and even-handedly applying the law to all groups in both traditions in Northern Ireland. It has the resources and manning to do so, and, under the present Government, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that it will continue to have all the resources, skills and training that it needs to do its job effectively in Northern Ireland in whatever circumstance and in the face of whatever challenge to law and order from whatever source it comes.

Madam Speaker

Order. Time is up, and I appeal to the House to settle down. There is a lot of noise and loud conversation. Ministers are finding it difficult to make themselves heard.

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