§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the absolute and percentage increase in violent offences against women recorded in the Metropolitan police district between 1979 and 1984; and what new and additional resources have been used to tackle this problem.
§ Mr. Mellor[pursuant to his reply, 10 December 1985, c. 583]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information is as given in the table. In the period 1979 to 1984 the establishment of the Metropolitan police increased from 22,786 to 26,844 officers. It is part of their duty to investigate violent offences against women, as all other criminal offences. Measures designed specifically to assist with the investigation of serious sexual offences against women include the provision of special training in sexual investigation techniques, the establishment of victims' examination suites, which are shortly to be opened and arrangements for interviewing by women police officers and, when requested, by women police surgeons. The number of women police officers in the Metropolitan police increased by 42 per cent., from 1,748 to 2,484 between 1979 and 1984.
Offences of violence against females recorded by the police, 1979–84 Metropolitan Police District Numbers and percentages Absolute increase 1979–1984 Percentage increase 1979–1984 Violence against the person 849 22 Rape 118 48 Robbery 2,278 96