§ 52. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police's report for 1962 that cases of wounding have shown a steady increase for the past seven years, numbering 2,991 against only 769 in 1938. and that total offences against the person have risen from 1,679 to 5,325 in the same years, what are the reasons for this steady in crease in crime; and if he will re-introduce corporal punishment for crimes of violence for an experimental five-year period.
§ Mr. BrookeThe figures which my hon. Friend gives for "wounding" are those for "wounding and assault". The reasons for the increase of crime are complex, and cannot be adequately summarised in reply to a Question. On the subject of corporal punishment there is nothing I can add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 4th April.