HC Deb 15 December 1988 vol 143 c715W
77. Mr. Bell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the average length of time in the Metropolitan police area taken for the fingerprint department to match a set of fingerprints found at the scene of crime with those of a suspect or suspects.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that searches of

1985 1986 1987 11988
London 418,036 437,857 355,475 342,437
Liverpool 446,813 556,664 554,993 583,865
Peterborough 392,460 482,797 480,422 470,982
Newport 369,981 427,800 439,302 452,769
Glasgow 137,098 159,954 159,723 142,726
Belfast 34,655 45,472 51,305 55,713
1,799,043 2,110,544 2,041,220 2,048,492
1January to September.