§ 26. Mr. Townsendasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new proposals he is going to put forward to combat mugging; and if there has been an increase in Greater London in each of the last five years.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe prevention and detection of street crime in Greater London is primarily the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. My right hon. Friend has already announced increased expenditure on law and order services to support the police. "Mugging" is a term which has no legal or generally accepted definition, but most of the incidents referred to as "muggings" are classified in Home Office statistics as robberies. The number of offences of robbery recorded in the Metropolitan Police District has increased in four of the last five years, the exception being 1973.