§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in respect of the Metropolitan Police area, how many of the 5,889 reported cases of street robbery in 1981 resulted in the detection of the offender; how many of those cases were prosecuted and what was the breakdown of the court disposal; and what further steps will be taken by the police to improve the detection rate and thus prevent these crimes.
§ Mr. MayhewWe understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that in 1981, 731 offences of street robbery of personal property in the Metropolitan Police district were cleared up. Some of these offences may have been committed in previous years. As street robbery of personal property does not constitute a separate legal offence category figures of persons prosecuted for these offences are not available. The Commissioner has constantly under review the operational response of the Metropolitan Police to crime, including street robberies.