§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire on what proportion of crimes in South Yorkshire are screened out after the initial investigation; on what basis this occurs; and by which police division.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the chief constable of South Yorkshire who has recently carried out a survey throughout the force, that after the initial investigation has been completed about 20 per cent. of all recorded crimes are "screened out". Certain types of crime, including all serious crimes, are exempt from the screening process. Of the remainder, crimes are only screened out if there is insufficient information on which further investigation could usefully be conducted. Information about the proportion of crimes screened out in each division is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.