§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of(a) murders, (b) attempted murders and (c) serious assaults in which (i) guns and (ii) knives were used in (1) K division of Strathclyde police, (2) Strathclyde region and (3) Scotland in each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 8 July 1992]: The available information is set out in the tables.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 8 July 1992]: Information on the number of incidents in which knives were used is not held centrally.
The number of crimes and offences involving the alleged use of a firearm recorded by the police for each year since 1982 is given in the table.
715W
Number of crimes and offences recorded by the police involving the alleged use of a firearm, 1982–1991 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 K Division, Strathclyde Police 72 47 74 96 82 76 43 54 123 159 Strathclyde Region 695 818 803 917 831 823 735 718 980 1,250 Scotland 1,283 1,336 1,353 1,675 1,525 1,429 1,159 1,173 1,484 1,887 I have nothing further to add to the replies I gave on 24 June 1992 to the hon. Member for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth at columns 254–55 and the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill at column 252.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of incidents in which(a) knives and (b) guns were used in (i) K division of Strathclyde police, (ii) Strathclyde region and (iii) Scotland in each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 8 July 1992]: Levels of violent crime are increasing in K division of Strathclyde police, in Strathclyde region, and in Scotland as a whole. I deplore this trend. The Government have increased funding for the police, who are in the front line in tackling violent crime, by 52 per cent. in real terms since 1979. The detection and prevention of violent crime are given a high priority by police forces throughout Scotland, and the Government will continue to provide the necessary resources to enable the police to maintain law and order.