§ 85. Mr. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders have become known to the police since the Homicide Act came into effect; and what are the numbers for the same period in each of the three preceding years.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe number of murders recorded as known to the police from 21st March, 1957, when the Homicide Act received the Royal Assent, to 31st May, the last date for which figures are available, is 57. In addition, one case of manslaughter was recorded which before the passing of the Homicide Act would have been recorded as murder. It is not possible to divide the figures for March in previous years, but the total numbers for the months March, April and May in the years 1954–1957 were, respectively: 54, 52, 45 and 68 (excluding the case of manslaughter just mentioned). The figures for all four periods include cases recorded as murder but subsequently found not to be murder.