§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain a report from the Chief Constable on the latest figures of the crime detection rate in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Northumberland as a whole, the amount of increased expenditure on cars, radio and other facilities to aid detection of crime, how these compare with previous years from 1963 to the latest available 404W date, and on the current manpower situation.
§ Mr. Elystan Morgan:Following is the information for the police force areas which, since 1st April, 1969, have been amalgamated in the Northumberland constabulary.
Clear-up rate of indictable offences Per cent. 1963 … … … 47.8 1964 … … … 46.7 1965 … … … 45.6 1966 … … … 46.2 1967 … … … 49.3 1968 … … … 51.8 1969 … … … 45.0 The above figures have been adjusted for the purposes of comparison to take account of the effect of the Theft Act, 1968, and certain changes in recording practice.
Vehicles: purchase £ 1963–64 … … 22,340 1964–65 … … 26,358 1965–66 … … 34,687 1966–67 … … 41,777 1967–68 … … 69,354 1968–69 … … 52,932 1969–70 … … 63,000
Wireless: purchase and rental £ 1963–64 … … 5,335 1964–65 … … 6,964 1965–66 … … 8,611 1966–67 … … 12,045 1967–68 … … 14,795 1968–69 … … 26,540 1969–70 … … 34,000 405W
Photographic and Fingerprint Departments crime prevention, closed-circuit television £ 1963–64 … … 1,425 1964–65 … … 1,775 1965–66 … … 2,684 1966–67 … … 2,853 1967–68 … … 3,517 1968–69 … … 4,954 1969–70 … … 4,310
Manpower Police strength on 31st December 1963 … … … 1,376 1964 … … … 1,443 1965 … … … 1,534 1966 … … … 1,594 1967 … … … 1,687 1968 … … … 1,676 1969 … … … 1,675 1970 (on 3Ist March) … … … 1,665