§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission an independent study of the possible reasons for the increase of violent crime in 1999–2000 and publish its findings. [134782]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI have no plans to commission such a study.
Action to reduce violent crime, based on research by the Home Office as well as from other sources on the causes of and trends in violent crime and crime overall, is ongoing. Police forces are aware of the increase in violent crime and are carrying out proactive operations to tackle it.