HC Deb 04 July 1983 vol 45 cc2-3W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average annual number of unlawful killings made known to the police in the most recent five years for which figures are available and in the five-year period up to and including the year 1964.

Mr. Mellor

The number of homicides initially recorded by the police is published each year in 'Criminal Statistics, England and Wales' (table 4.1 of the latest volume for 1981, Cmnd. 8668). Including the provisional figure of 619 for 1982, the average annual number of homicide offences initially recorded in the period 1978–82 was 592; in the period 1960–64 the corresponding average number was 290.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage increase or decrease in the number of serious offences in which firearms were reported to have been used made known to the police in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for the year 1964.

Mr. Mellor

The number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been used increased by 22 per cent. between 1980 and 1981, as may be derived from table 3.1 of the latest issue of 'Criminal Statistics, England and Wales for 1981'. Comparable figures are not available before 1969.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual average of serious crimes involving the use of firearms made known to the police over the most recent five-year period for which figures are available; and what was the comparable annual average for the five year period up to and including the year 1964.

Mr. Mellor

The annual number of offences recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been used averaged 6,400 between 1977 and 1981 as may be derived from table 3.1 of 'Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1981'. Comparable figures are not available before 1969.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage increase has occurred in the numbers of robberies made known to the police in which shotguns, pistols or rifles were used over the past 10 years.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested can be derived from table 3.4 of the latest issue of "Criminal statistics, England and Wales" for 1981. The number of robberies recorded by the police in which shotguns, pistols, or rifles were reported to have been used increased by 270 per cent. between 1971 and 1981.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage increase in crimes and offences made known to the police between 1945 and 1964 and between 1964 and 1983; and what was the comparable percentage change in the numbers of unlawful killings made known to the police over the same periods.

Mr. Mellor

Information on notifiable offences recorded by the police is published annually by type of offence in "Criminal statistics, England and Wales" (tables 2.2 and 2.7 of the latest issue for 1981, Cmnd. 8668) and quarterly in Home Office statistical bulletins. Figures on a comparable basis are not available before 1950. Between the 15-year period 1950–64 and the 15-year period 1965–79 the total number of notifiable offences recorded by the police increased by about 160 per cent. and the total number of homicide offences recorded increased by 52 per cent.