§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Her Majesty's Government will investigate why violent crime in Hyde park increased by 100 per cent. between 1979 and 1981; whether information is available on increases in other Royal parks; and whether any action is intended in this respect.
§ Mr. MayhewI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the number of offences of assault, robbery, and other violent theft recorded in Hyde park was 18 in 1979, 13 in 1980 and 36 in 1981. As the numbers involved are small and may be affected by many factors, considerable variation from year to year is to be expected.
As to increases in other Royal parks, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment on 10 February.—[Vol. 17, c. 407.] This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.