HC Deb 20 July 1989 vol 157 cc275-6W
15. Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recorded crime statistics in Northern Ireland for the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mr. Ian Stewart

As stated in the chief constable's latest annual report, the level of recorded crime in 1988 fell for the second year in succession. The downward trend in the level of reported crime is encouraging, especially in the light of the improving crime detection rate.