§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the likely impact of(a) the continued recession and (b) the effect of future levels of benefits or public services on (i) the crime rate and (ii) inner city and other disorder; and what assessment he has made of whether the police will be able to cope with such developments.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 30 October 1992]: There are very many variables that may affect the crime rate—not least the behaviour of individual offenders. The 7W relationship between crime levels and economic activity is analysed in Home Office research study 119 "Trends in Crime and their Interpretation: A Study of Recorded Crime in Post-war England and Wales"—a copy of which is in the Library. Factors which might affect public order in inner cities are kept under constant review. The Government will continue to ensure that the police and other criminal justice services are provided with the necessary resources to respond to crime whatever its source or reason.