§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the estimated numbers of crimes of violence against the person in the first half of 1964; what were the comparable figures for the first half of 1938; and what action he proposes to take to deal with this problem.
§ Sir F. SoskiceThe number of offences of violence against the person known to the police in England and Wales in the first half of 1964 was 10,971. I regret that the corresponding figure for 1938 is not available. The figures for the complete years 1963 and 1938 are 20,083 and 2,721, respectively. The immediate task, to which I am giving urgent attention, is to build up police strength. I am also undertaking a review of the equipment, organisation and methods best adapted to enable the police effectively to combat crime.