§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) traffic offences and (b) burglaries were recorded in (i) 1980 and (ii) 1992.
§ Mr. MacleanFigures for the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police are published annually in the Home Office Bulletin "Notifiable Offences, England630W and Wales". They include offences of burglary, causing death by reckless driving and (from April 1992) causing death by aggravated vehicle-taking. All other traffic offences are not notifiable. However, statistics giving the action taken for offences relating to motor vehicles (written warnings, vehicle defect rectification scheme notices, fixed penalty notices and court proceedings) are published annually in Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Motor Offences, England and Wales", although 1992 figures have not yet been published. Copies of these publications are in the Library.
§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the amount of police time that is spent on traffic control compared with burglary prevention and investigation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleMy right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations from hon. Members and from the public in the last 12 months about the time spent by the police on traffic control as opposed to dealing with other crime matters. The police have a key role in the enforcement of traffic legislation. The deployment of police officers to meet the various duties undertaken by the police is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.