Orders of the Day — Crime, Scotland (Police Powers)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 26 March 1968.

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Photo of Professor Esmond Wright Professor Esmond Wright , Glasgow Pollok 12:00, 26 March 1968

I regret that so many of my hon. Friends should have been kept here so late to listen to me, and also that the Under-Secretary has to stay, although he can no doubt derive comfort from the fact that he will be returning at two-hourly intervals throughout this long night's journey into the next day.

This is a serious subject, which one cannot discuss without long and deep concern. It is simply that law and order in Scotland is gravely imperilled. I will divide my speech into four main parts—the reasons for the concern, the factors behind the violence not only in Scotland but in the United Kingdom as a whole, the fact that the Government have been slow in a whole series of ways, and some positive proposals of my own. It is said that it is the task of Governments to govern, but there is occasionally value in suggestions from the Opposition about how they could govern better.

First, the facts. Last year, 1967, was the worst year in recorded history for crime in Scotland, especially for crimes of violence. This was particularly so in the last six months, and, if the trend continues, the incidence of murder and violence will soar to unprecedented heights. I am sure that I do not need to remind the Under-Secretary of the murders committed last year and of the rate of increase—12 in 1957, 15 in 1960. 16 in 1963, 27 in 1964, 32 in 1965, 30 in 1966, 41 in 1967. Also, he will notice that, in 1956, before the death penalty for all murders was abolished, one person stood trial for murder.

In 1964, the year before the complete abolition of hanging, 13 persons stood trial for murder. In 1965, the first year of complete abolition, 33 stood trial for murder, 28 of them in Glasgow. In 1966, 50 stood trial, 35 in Glasgow, and in 1967, 43 stool trial, 25 in Glasgow. This might appear a slight fall, but we must bear in mind that in the last six months of last year, 30 persons were indicited in 25 trials, and that in the last 15 months there have been 71 murders.