HL Deb 30 March 1982 vol 428 cc1375-6WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) Who took the decision to start publishing ethnic analyses of certain criminal offences;
  2. (ii) Whether the Home Secretary was consulted in advance;
  3. (iii) Who else was consulted;
  4. (iv) What is the effect of this decision on the role of the Home Secretary as the Police Authority for London; and
  5. (v) Whether the statistics published are not in fact misleading in view of the amount of unreported and reported but unsolved crime.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Belstead)

The publication of statistics collected for operational reasons by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is a matter for him. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary, as police authority, was informed in advance of the commissioner's intention. Crime statistics always need to be interpreted with care.