§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the results of his inquiries of chief officers of police in England and Wales about offences of mugging.
§ Mr. R. CarrReplies from chief officers of police indicate that while this kind of offence has undoubtedly become more prevalent in the last year or two in urban areas of England and Wales, notably in London and Liverpool, the general situation is not deteriorating further and may be improving in some areas.
The police are very much alive to the seriousness of the situation and have taken special measures to deal with it, mainly by identifying the areas of greatest risk and re-deploying their resources. In many areas special squads of uniformed or plainclothes officers have been formed. There are indications that the measures taken are having some effect in containing the problem, but it is too soon to judge their full effect. The police are continuing to watch the situation closely.
I believe that these inquiries have been valuable in obtaining an up-to-date assessment of the situation and putting it into perspective. Arrangements are being made to ensure that chief officers of police obtain the benefit of one another's experience.