HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc16-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report comparative figures of crime for the last two years in Newham showing the numbers of shoplifting cases, stealing from shops and stores, burglaries, thefts of and from motor vehicles, thefts of cycles; and to what extent there has been an increase of these types of crime being committed by juveniles and the younger generation;

(2) if he will seek from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis figures for the increase of crime in the London borough of Newham during the last 12 months; and if he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information as may be readily available concerning crime in Newham in 1979, 1980 and 1981, giving separately details of the offence known as mugging.

Mr. Mayhew

[pursuant to his reply, 23 December 1981, c. 422]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information available for Newham is as shown in the following table. Information on the age of persons committing serious offences recorded by the police is not available because at the time of recording of most offences the identity of the offender or offenders is unknown. Information for Newham on the age of persons found guilty or cautioned by the police

*Figures for 1980 and 1981 are not precisely comparable with those for 1979 because of changes made by new counting rules which were introduced at the beginning of 1980.

†Excludes burglaries involving violence.

‡Includes unauthorised taking of motor vehicles.

**Excludes cheque fraud offences which are recorded and investigated centrally in the MPD.