§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time up to and including 31 March, the numbers of reports of attacks on the person and those commonly referred to as muggings which have taken place in the Metropolitan Police districts covering the London borough of Newham; in how many cases arrests were made and charges proceeded with; and in the latter cases what were the results of such proceedings.
§ Mr. MayhewMugging is a term with no legal definition. We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information available is as given in the following table. Information is not readily available on the court proceedings for persons charged.
Certain offences of robbery of personal property* London Borough of Newham 1981 1982 Offences recorded by the police 131 165 Offences cleared up† 23 26 Persons arrested and charged†‡ 33 36 * Offences of robbery of personal property following a sudden attack in the open, there having no previously association between the assailant and the victim. † The offence may have been recorded in previous years. ‡ Excludes persons who were charged but who had been arrested for another offence.