Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Mark Hendrick (Labour) on Monday, 28 June 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 June 2021. It was answered by Kit Malthouse (Conservative) on Monday, 5 July 2021 on behalf of the Home Office.

Crimes of Violence: Corrosive Substances

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of recording data on crimes involving (a) acid and (b) corrosive fluid.

Answer

We have put in place an Annual Data Requirement on police forces to collect data on corrosive attacks. Data is published annually as part of the Office for National Statistics’ crime statistics. The latest data available which is for the year ending March 2020 showed that the police recorded 619 violence against the person and robbery offences involving corrosive substances (figures exclude offences for Greater Manchester Police). It is not possible to breakdown the offences between those which involved the use of acid and those which involved other corrosive substances. We expect that data for the year ending March 2021 will be published on 22 July.

The Government is working closely with the police to ensure that they are able to take effective action to tackle and prevent acid or corrosive attacks. We have also strengthened the law on corrosives through the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 with legislative measures specifically stopping the sale and delivery of acid and corrosive substances to under 18s and making it an offence to possess acid or a corrosive substance in public. We expect to commence these measures later this year.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
23073
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Crimes of violence Corrosive substances
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk