HC Deb 18 February 1970 vol 796 cc149-50W
Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have lost their lives while on duty as a result of shooting, stabbing or other similar attacks since November, 1965; and what was the comparable total in the similar period before November, 1965.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

In England and Wales, the number of incidents in which police officers lost their lives while on duty as a result of offences of murder, or manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, in each complete year from 1946 is as follows:

Number of incidents in which a police officer was killed Total number of police officers killed
1946 1 1
1947 nil nil
1948 1 1
1949 nil nil
1950 nil nil
1951 2 3
1952 1 1
1953 nil nil
1954 nil nil
1955 nil nil
1956 nil nil
1957 nil nil
1958 1 1
1959 1 1
1960 1 1
1961 1 2
1962 nil nil
1963 nil nil
1964 nil nil
1965 2* 2
1966 2 4†
1967 nil nil
1968 nil nil
1969 1 1‡
* Offences committed in February and August.
† Three officers killed in one incident.
‡ Offender convicted of manslaughter by virtue of diminished responsibility.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were subject to assaults which resulted in their being absent from duty in the period between November, 1965, and the most recent date for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for the similar period before November, 1965.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

During 1963–65 836 officers of the Metropolitan Police were absent from duty because of assaults; and in 1966–68 1,216. I regret that information relating to the rest of England and Wales is not available.