§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the recorded incidents of(a) racial assault, (b) racist murder and (c) incitement to racial hatred in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [50201]
§ Mr. MichaelInformation is not available in precisely the form requested. At present, individual forces submit their total racial incidents figures to Her Majesty's102W Inspectorate of Constabulary at the end of each financial year, on the basis of the Association of Chief Police Officers' definition of a racial incident:
any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation, or any incident which includes an allegation of racial motivation made by any person".These statistics are not broken down by the type of incident. In consultation with the police, the Home Office is currently exploring the possibility of police forces submitting a breakdown of the type of racial incidents recorded by the police in the future.
The total number of racial incidents recorded by the police in England and Wales1 from 1989 to 1996–97 is given in the table.
Year England and Wales total 1989 5,044 1990 6,359 1991 7,882 1992 7,734 1993–942 11,006 1994–95 11,878 1995–96 12,222 1996–97 13,151 1Figures are available from 1989 onwards 2Until 1993–94 figures were submitted to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary every calendar year. In addition, under data collection requirements agreed by member states, figures giving the number of serious racial incidents have been submitted to the European Union since 1994. The 1994–95 figures showed that, of the 11,878 racial incidents recorded by the police in England and Wales, 508 were in respect of serious crime. Of these, four were murders; three were attempted murders; 161 were attacks involving explosives/arson; and 340 were serious assaults. In 1995–96, of the 12,222 racial incidents recorded by the police, 440 were in respect of serious crime. Of these, two were murders; 163 were attacks involving explosives/arson; and 275 were serious assaults. In 1996–97, of the 13,151 racial incidents recorded by the police, 414 were in respect of serious crime. Of these, three were murders; two were attempted murders; 158 were attacks involving explosives/arson; and 251 were serious assaults.
Ensuring that racial incidents are properly recorded and pursued is one aspect of the drive against racially aggravated crime. The Government intend to ensure that the criminal law is able to deal effectively with those involved in these incidents. The Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] contains new racially aggravated offences which will send out a strong message that racist violence and harassment is unacceptable. It is also hoped that the Inquiry into the matters arising from the tragic death of Stephen Lawrence will identify the lessons to be learned for the investigation and prosecution of racially motivated crime.