HC Deb 09 April 2001 vol 366 cc459-60W
23. Mr. Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's strategy to reduce crime. [156044]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The Government are committed to reducing crime, tackling its causes, ensuring proper punishment of those who break the law and providing the resources necessary to tackle crime. As a result, the British Crime Survey showed that crime fell by 10 per cent. between 1997 and 1999. In addition, the number of police officers rose by 444 in the six months to September 2000.