HC Deb 25 June 1973 vol 858 cc282-3W
Mr. Edward Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement of the main changes in recording practice in his Department since 1963 in relation to the calculation of criminal statistics other than offences made known to the police.

Mr. Carlisle

Since 1963 there has been no change in the basis used to compile the statistics relating to criminal court proceedings. Changes in the classification of certain offences and in the recording of court disposals have been made as a result of legislation.

Mr. Edward Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why it has been decided to exclude all cases of theft involving sums or items valued less than £5 from the statistics of offences made known to the police;

(2) what procedures were followed in arriving at the decision to exclude thefts valued at less than £5 from the official statistics of crimes and offences;

(3) when it was decided to exclude thefts involving sums or items valued at less than £5 from the official statistics of crimes and offences; and how the decision was announced;

(4) who is responsible for carrying out valuations of goods which are stolen so that those valued less than £5 can be separately identified; what professional qualifications they have; and how the task is carried out in the case of goods which are stolen but not recovered.

Mr. Carlisle

The exclusion of thefts of property valued under £5 from offences recorded as known to the police was recommended by the Departmental Committee on Criminal Statistics—the Perks Committee—which reported in 1967 (Cmnd. 3448).

The decision to implement this recommendation was taken in November 1971 and announced when the first relevant statistics were published in July 1972. The estimate of the value of property stolen is based on information supplied to the police by the loser.