§ 12. Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of crime in 1987 was accounted for by theft of or from cars; what were the comparable figures for the five previous years and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenIn the last five years, about a quarter of all recorded crime has been theft of or from vehicles. In the first nine months of 1987, it was 26 per cent., but thefts of vehicles fell, while thefts from vehicles increased. We expect the full year figures to reflect this pattern. Many of these offences can be prevented. We believe that 20 per cent. of motorists do not always regularly lock their cars.
§ 22. Mr. ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the level of crime in the Metropolitan police area in 1987 and the previous year.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has reported that in 1987 there were, in total, 4 per cent. fewer crimes recorded in the Metropolitan police district than in 1986. There were falls in recorded offences of rape, autocrime and burglary. Recorded offences of robbery and violence against the person increased although they still formed less than 6 per cent. of total recorded crime in 1987.