§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of burglary in residential property were known to the Metropolitan Police in 1980; how many police officers there are in the Metropolitan Police area exclusively engaged in crime prevention advisory duties; and what plans there are to increase the numbers of such officers.
§ Mr. MayhewA total of 75,000 offences of burglary in a dwelling were recorded in the Metropolitan Police district in 1980. The figures are to be found in table S.3.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, 1980", Volume 3, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
There are 87 officers employed full-time on crime prevention duties in the Metropolitan Police, 53 of whom have deputies employed part-time on such duties. The deployment of his officers is a matter for the Commissioner, and I understand that he has no plans to increase the number engaged full-time on such duties. However, the Commissioner is concerned to increase awareness of the scope for crime prevention among all Metropolitan Police officers and he is now examining the crime prevention content of training courses.