§ 29. Liz BlackmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making on tackling violent crime in Northern Ireland. [103442]
§ Mr. IngramProvisional figures on violent crime for the period April to October 1999 and the final comparable figures for the same period in 1998 show some positive trends. Although the number of offences recorded has increased by 8.7 per cent., the clearance rate is disproportionately higher with a 28.4 per cent. improvement. As a result, clearance rates for violent crime compare favourably (58.6 per cent.) with the previous year (49.7 per cent.). It should be noted that these figures are not comparable with the figures in the last report of the Chief Constable which were produced under the old Home Office counting rules.