§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take in the light of the 14 per cent. increase in armed robberies and violent crimes in England and Wales over the first quarter of 1984; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe offence of robbery covers all theft involving the use or threat of violence, with or without a weapon. The available information, which is summarised in the table, does not distinguish between different kinds of robbery.
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Notifiable offences recorded by the police England and Wales Number of offences (thousands) Number of offences (thousands) Offence group 1st quarter 1984 1st quarter 1983 Percentage increase April 1982–March 1983 April 1983–March 1984 Percentage increase Violence against the person Robbery 23.6 24.9 +6 108.1 112.7 +4 Robbery 5.3 6.0 +14 21.9 22.8 +4 It is disappointing that these figures show an increase, but it would be a mistake to read too much into a single quarter's return. Many of the measures which we have taken, including substantial increases in police manpower, will take some time to achieve their full effect. The Government take the most serious view of offences of carrying firearms in the furtherance of crime, and plan to increase the maximum penalty for such offences from 14 years to life imprisonment.