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Newham (Assaults)

Volume 958: debated on Monday 13 November 1978

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will agree to meet a deputation of local representatives from the London borough of Newham together with the hon. Member for Newham, North-West to discuss matters connected with the growing number of physical assaults occurring in the borough, the allegations that these are racially inspired and the charges that the police are failing to take adequate steps to deal with such matters;(2) in the light of allegations that enforcement of the law is not adequate in relation to the almost daily assaults on immigrants in the London borough of Newham, if he will visit the area to make a personal investigation;(3) in the light of the increasing number of assaults on the immigrant population in East London in general and in the London borough of Newham in particular which is causing concern to local councillors, if he will arrange to visit the Newham area to discuss these matters with local public representatives and the leaders of the ethnic groups.

The prevention and detection of crime in the borough of Newham are responsibilities of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. As a result of a letter to me from my hon. Friend, the commissioner has recently sent me a report on the situation there. I understand that reports to the police do not indicate a large number, nor an organised pattern, or racially motivated attacks on the Asian community in New- ham. It may be, however, that some attacks are not being reported. The commissioner has deployed extra patrols in Newham, and the police there are active in trying to develop their contact with the community so that the true nature of the problem can be assessed.I have no plans at present to visit Newham. If, in the light of this reply, and my recent letter my hon. Friend has specific points which he would like to discuss with me I should be grateful if he would let me know so that suitable arrangements can be made for a meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for a recent convenient period the number of cases of physical assaults reported to the police in the London borough of Newham; and of these, the number of assaults that were made on immigrants, the number of prosecutions that were made, and with what results.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that in 1977 there were 523 offences of "assault", and so on, recorded by the police in the borough of Newham; these figures cover nearly all indictable offences of violence against the person and certain sexual offences involving violence. Information is not available on how many of the victims were immigrants.The information available on court proceedings relates to offences of violence against the person and does not include sexual offences involving violence. In 1977, 239 persons were proceeded against in the Newham petty sessional division for indictable offences of violence against the person; 168 persons were found guilty either in the Newham petty sessional division or in the Crown court following committal for trial from the Newham petty sessional division.