Crimes (Clear-up Rate)

HC Deb 02 April 1987 vol 113 c591W

31. Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when was the last occasion on which the number of crimes cleared up fell.

Mr. Mellor

Since 1970 the number of offences cleared up by the police has risen in most years, but there were falls in 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1986. Numbers of offences cleared up in the previous 10 years are published in the annual Command Paper "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (table 2.17 of the issue for 1985).

48. Mr. Frank Cook

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the clear-up rate of crime in 1978 and 1986 for Cleveland county.

Mr. Mellor

In Cleveland the ratio of notifiable offences cleared up to offences recorded by the police was 55 per cent. in 1978 and 34 per cent. in 1986.

49. Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when was the last time that the clear-up rate of crime was less than one third.

Mr. Mellor

The clear-up rate for notifiable offences recorded by the police has been published in the Command Paper "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" each year from 1950 onwards (table 2.17 of the issue for 1985). Before 1986 the clear-up rate was never less than one third.