Written question asked by Sam Galbraith (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 November 1996. It was answered by Lord Selkirk of Douglas (Conservative) on Wednesday, 20 November 1996 on behalf of the Scottish Office.

Scottish Office

Question: How many crimes were committed in (a) 1979 and (b) the last year for which figures are available. (Failed OPQ). - Includes figures for number of crimes recorded by police in Scotland.

Answer: Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crimes were committed in (a) 1979 and (b) the last year for which figures are available. [3479] Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Information on the number of crimes committed is not available. The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 346,680 in 1979 and 502,802 in 1995. The results of the Scottish crime survey, a household survey of people's experience of crime, indicate that, between 1981 and 1992 actual crimes increased by only 4 per cent. compared with a 52 per cent. increase in comparable recorded crime over the same period.

Secondary information