§ Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent report by the Metropolitan Police regarding the high crime rate among juveniles in the Greater London area.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI share the widespread concern at the continuing problem of the large number of criminal offences committed by juveniles, in London and elsewhere, and the substantial proportion of juveniles among those arrested or prosecuted for certain offences. There is no simple solution. Both the preventive and detective rôles of the police are vital, and I continue to give close attention to the strength and efficiency of the police, and to give full support to them and other agencies who are working together to discourage juvenile crime and to help young people in trouble. I also stress, as others have done, the need for parents to maintain a responsible and concerned approach towards the activities of their children.