Crime Prevention (Technology) (Hansard, 22 May 2000)

§ 23. Mr. Burgon
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with representatives of the business community about the use of technology to prevent crime. [121554]
360W

Metropolitan Police District—Category totals and clear-up rates

Offences Percentage cleared up

Robbery 36,317 12

Burglary 129,145 10

Theft and handling stolen goods 426,235 10

Fraud and forgery 105,150 9

Criminal damage¹ 151,590 10

Drug offences² 26,233 91

Other offences 11,308 43

Total 1,052,047 16

¹Including all criminal damage.

²Prior to the change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, the only drug offence counted was drug trafficking, which was included in "other offences".

Notes:
1. There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, with the aim of wherever possible measuring one crime per victim. The coverage of offences was also expanded. It was estimated that these changes in themselves increased the overall number of crimes recorded by the Metropolitan Police by 21.7 per cent. Numbers of offences and clear-up rates before and after this date are not directly comparable.
2. The basis for the collection of clear-ups changed on 1 April 1999. The major changes were a reduction in the number of offences taken into consideration being counted (only those that were previously recorded will now be counted), and with more stringent rules applying to "prison visit" clear-ups. Clear-up rates subsequent to this date are not directly comparable with previous years.

§ Mr. Simon Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were in the Metropolitan police area, in each category of crime and in total, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [123153]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
The available information on offenders convicted within the Metropolitan police area comes from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database and is given in the table.

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
We have established a number of initiatives to discuss with the business community the use of technology to prevent crime. We are working with industry to encourage the comprehensive electronic tagging or "chipping" of goods. The ability to track and trace goods effectively will have far-reaching implications for commerce and crime reduction. We are funding the 361W Foresight Crime Prevention Panel, which includes business and industry representatives and is specifically seeking to identify opportunities for using advances in technology to reduce crime. Action teams, with representatives and is specifically seeking to identify opportunities for using advances in technology to reduce crime. Action teams, with representatives from business community, have also been established to look at retail, vehicle and property crime, including the use of technology.

Metropolitan Police District—Category totals and clear-up rates
	Offences	Percentage cleared up
Robbery	36,317	12
Burglary	129,145	10
Theft and handling stolen goods	426,235	10
Fraud and forgery	105,150	9
Criminal damage¹	151,590	10
Drug offences²	26,233	91
Other offences	11,308	43
Total	1,052,047	16
¹Including all criminal damage.
²Prior to the change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, the only drug offence counted was drug trafficking, which was included in "other offences".