§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the independent television companies to discuss the report from his Department on the fear of crime and the screening of crime prevention and detection programmes.
§ Mr. John PattenThe report on the fear of crime, which was produced by a working group chaired by Mr. Michael Grade, was drawn to the attention of the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority which later commissioned a research report on crime reconstruction programmes. This suggested that although such programmes may increase the level of fear, their value in assisting the police is widely recognised. There are signs, which the Government welcome, that the programme makers have taken account of the messages in these reports.