asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders known to the police took place in 1965 to the latest convenient date; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the five previous years.

The number of deaths known to the police in England and Wales during the period 1st January to 30th September, 1965 and initially recorded as murders was 185; these figures include cases which may be found not to be murder. The figures for the corresponding period in each of the five previous years were 178 in 1964, 162 in 1963, 172 in 1962, 163 in 1961 and 157 in 1960.