§ Mr. Dickensasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of unlawful killing were (a) investigated by the police and (b) led to convictions for (i) murder and (ii) manslaughter, between 1955 and 1965, between 1965 and 1975 and between 1975 and 1985, respectively.
§ Mr. MellorIn the absence of a court decision, it is not possible to distinguish between offences of murder, manslaughter and infanticide; they are, collectively homicide. The information available is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"; chapter 4 of the latest volume for 1984 (Cmnd. 9621) gives statistics for the period 1974–1984. The figures for 1955 to 1984 are summarised in the following table. Corresponding information for 1985 is not yet available.
investigations have been completed since 1979; how many of these investigations have led to prosecutions; and how many of these investigations have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions;
(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to how many of the investigations commenced by the City of London's police company fraud department have 29W been referred to the Department of Trade and Industry or to the City Solicitor for assistance; of these how many have been completed; and how many led to prosecution.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the commissioner of the City of London police that it may not be practicable to provide information in exactly the form requested, but the information that can be made available will be provided as soon as possible.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to the number of new investigations into city fraud started by the Metropolitan police for each year since 1979 and how many of these investigations have led to prosecutions since 1979; how many of these investigations have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and of the latter, how many have led to prosecutions; and how many have been completed.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that it is most unlikely, because of the geographical boundaries of his force, that any new investigations into city fraud were started by his force during the period specified. Such frauds are normally investigated by the City of London police.