HC Deb 03 November 1994 vol 248 c1336W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures on recorded crime in Hertfordshire.

Mr. Maclean

In the 12 months to June 1994, 54,268 offences were recorded by the police in Hertfordshire. This represents a decrease of eight per cent. on the corresponding period for the previous year.

Mr. Ottaway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has formed of current trends in the figures for recorded crime.

Mr. Maclean

The most recent figures, for the 12 months to June 1994, show that the number of crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales decreased by 5.5 per cent. compared with the previous 12 months. This is the largest fall over 12 months for 40 years. I very much hope that, following on as it does from the one per cent. fall for the whole of 1993, this will serve to reassure the public that recent rises in recorded crime can not only be slowed but actually reversed.