§ 50. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total numbers of crimes known to the police in 1964 and 1954, respectively; what proportions were estimated to be due to alcohol; and what new action he is taking to reduce the rate of crimes committed.
§ Sir F. Soskice434,327 indictable offences were known to the police in England and Wales in 1954. The statistics for 1964 are not yet available, but for 1963 the corresponding figure was 978,076. It is not possible to say what proportions of these offences were due to alcohol. To reduce crime I am doing everything in my power to build up the strength and increase the efficiency of the police.