§ 68. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent there is evidence that the carrying of lethal weapons by criminals has increased since the passing of the Homicide Act.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe only information about the extent of the carrying of lethal weapons is to be found in the numbers of persons prosecuted for being in possession of an offensive weapon under the Prevention of Crime Act, 1953. In the three years 1956, 1957 and 1958, the numbers in the Metropolitan Police District168W were 140, 196 and 420, respectively. It is impossible to say how far the increase in 1958 was due to greater activity on the part of the police in the face of a rising number of crimes of violence and how far it reflected a real increase in the carrying of offensive weapons; or, in so far as there was a real increase, whether that increase had any connection with the Homicide Act or derives mainly from the spread of a deplorable fashion among certain sections of young men.