§ Mr. Woollamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the increase in the volume of crime in 1957 as compared with 1956; and in which age and offence groups was the increase most marked.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerProvisional figures for 1957 show a large increase in the number of indictable offences known to the police. The proportionate increase compared with 1956 was most marked in the groups of offences classified as breaking and entering, receiving, and violence against the person. The following table gives the figures for 1956 and 1957:
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— Indictable Offences known to the Police 1956 1957 Percentage increase Larceny 323,561 360,985 11.6 Breaking and entering 85,768 105,042 22.5 Receiving 7,215 8,619 19.5 Frauds and false pretences 23,029 26,235 13.9 Sexual offences 17,103 18,635 9.0 Violence against the person 9,307 10,960 17.8 Others 13,727 15,086 9.9 Total 479,710 545,562 13.7 The number of persons found guilty of indictable offences has increased in all age groups and for both sexes. The proportionate increase is most serious in the age group 17 and under 21, and nearly
— Males Females 1956 1957 Percentage increase 1956 1957 Percentage increase Age 8 and under 14 … … 20,813 23,697 13.9 1,527 1,580 3.5 Age 14 and under 17 … … 15,029 18,149 20.8 1,446 1,681 16.3 Age 17 and under 21 … … 13,425 16,962 26.3 1,757 2,059 17.2 Age 21 and under 30 … … 22,461 24,964 11.1 2,376 2,498 5.1 Age 30 and over … … 30,226 32,156 6.4 6,814 7,174 5.3 Total … … 101,954 115,928 13.7 13,920 14,992 7.7 The number of persons convicted of non-indictable offences was 10 per cent. greater in 1957 than in 1956. There were increases of 31 per cent. in the number of convictions of offences by prostitutes, 18 per cent. in the number of persons convicted of malicious damage to property, and 12 per cent. in the number of persons convicted of drunkenness.