HC Deb 28 July 1989 vol 157 cc1072-3W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many reported crimes were screened out by the Metropolitan police in the most recently completed 12-month period;

(2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to what percentage of reported crimes were screened out by the Metropolitan police in each of the past five years.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

A formal system of crime screening was introduced throughout the Metropolitan police only in April 1988. A recent survey of eight representative police stations indicated that following initial investigation, an average of 30 per cent. of all crimes are allocated for further investigation. This figure varies between areas and according to the seriousness of offences.