§ 50. Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that sufficient police manpower is devoted to the prevention and detection of burglary in London.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe prevention and detection of burglary is a central feature of the strategy of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, which has our full support. The deployment of the available manpower for particular purposes is a matter for the Commissioner.
§ 53. Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to seek to improve the clear-up rate for burglaries (a) in the Metropolitan police area generally and (b) in 'J' Division specifically.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, (Mr. Dobson) on 28 November, at column 493. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he has introduced a number of initiatives, all of which have been adopted in 'J' district, to further police effectiveness by focussing investigation of burglary on those cases most amenable to detection: these include the operation since 1982 of units at area level specially trained to deal with certain types of burglary such as those involving bogus officials; the introduction in 1983 of burglary case screening; and the establishment earlier this year of local units to collate forensic and other information to identify related offences.