§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that, during last year, cash and valuables totalling £55,336,400 were stolen, an increase of 6 per cent. up on the previous year; whether he will give the figures for the preceding four years, and what action has been, or is being, taken to arrest and prevent this growth in crime;
(2) how much of the £55,336,400 cash and valuables stolen during last year was from security vans and security firms; and what action he has taken, or intends taking, to prevent this form of robbery.
§ Mr. SharplesI have no statistics which enable me to make a worth-while estimate either of the total value of cash and valuables stolen or of the proportion taken from security vans and firms. The scale of loss could be reduced if suitable precautions were always taken by owners and their agents. The police are ready to advise on what would be suitable. Measures to assist them include the current national crime prevention publicity campaign.