§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of serious offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in 1980; what percentages of these offences were of theft, of handling stolen goods and of burglary; to what extent these figures increased or decreased compared with the previous five years; and during this period what was the rise or fall in the numbers of police and in expenditure on the police service.
§ Mr. MayhewThe total number of serious offences recorded by the police in 1980 and earlier years is published by offence group in table 2.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1980" Cmnd 8376 and the percentage distribution for the latest year is given in figure 2.1. Further details of the numbers of offences of theft, and handling stolen goods and of burglary are to he found in tables 2.9 and 2.7.
The most recent White Paper on the Government's expenditure plans (Cmnd 8175) contained the following figures for current expenditure on the police (including central government expenditure on police support):
Financial year £ million at 1980 survey prices 1975–76 1,394 1976–77 1,460 1977–78 1,451 1978–79 1,430 1979–80 1,496 1980–81 1,559 The total strength of the police service during this period was:
At 31December Total Strength 1975 107,138 1976 109,476 1977 108,201 1978 109,075 1979 113,309 1980 117,423