§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the progress of police action to seek to apprehend the gang responsible for rape and assault at the Ealing vicarage on 6 March; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the Commissioner that investigations into this incident are being taken forward with all urgency and that the police have been greatly assisted in their inquiries by an outstanding response from the public who have come forward with a considerable amount of information which may prove helpful to the investigation. I fully support the Commissioner's operational commitment to tracing the offenders in this case. Rape is an offence which is taken with the utmost seriousness by the police and the Commissioner has recently introduced a number of changes in the force's procedures for handling rape victims which, while recognising the trauma they experience, is designed to improve the sympathetic treatment which they need.