§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constable of Merseyside and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the number of people who have been prosecuted since 1980 for criminal harassment of tenants in privately rented accommodation.
§ Mr. HurdRecords available to us show that, in 1980–82, 24 defendants were proceeded against under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, section 1(3) (unlawful harassment of occupier) in magistrates courts in the Metropolitan police district, and one in the Merseyside police force area. These records do not however distinguish offences relating solely to privately-rented accommodation and may be incomplete because prosecutions are likely to be brought other than by the police.