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Stalking

Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new cases of stalking were reported to the police in (a) the Metropolitan police authority and (b) each other police force area for each year since 1990. [32585]

Mr. Maclean: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mrs. Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the issue of stalking since 13 May. [33720]

Mr. Maclean: Since 13 May, we have received representations on the issue of stalking from: the National Anti-Stalking and Harassment Campaign, NASH; the Suzy Lamplugh Trust; hon. Friends and hon. Members and noble Lords in another place; and 13 members of the public, including victims of stalking.

Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals he has to provide for a criminal offence of stalking; [33721]

(2) what representations he has received about the Stalking (No. 2) Bill [Lords]. [33722]

Mr. Maclean: Of the representations we have received on this subject, only early-day motion 875 made specific reference to the Stalking (No. 2) Bill.

The Government will be publishing a consultation paper shortly, which will put forward comprehensive proposals for legislation to deal with stalking.

20 Jun 1996 : Column: 538

Domestic Violence

Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many separate incidents of domestic violence were reported to police in (a) the Metropolitan police authority and (b) each other police force area in each year since 1985; how many resulted in prosecutions and how many resulted in convictions. [32588]

Mr. Maclean: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Assaults (Women)

Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many physical assaults and robberies against women were reported to police in (a) the Metropolitan police authority and (b) each other police force area for each year since 1990; how many of these cases were taken to court; and how many resulted in convictions. [32589]

Mr. Maclean: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Police (Sexual Harassment)

Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints of sexual harassment were made by women police officers in (a) the Metropolitan police authority and (b) each other police force for each year since 1993; [32689]

(2) what steps he is taking to monitor levels of sexual harassment in the police service. [32688]

Mr. Maclean: Records of the number of complaints of sexual harassment made by women police officers are not kept centrally. All police forces in England and Wales have an equal opportunities statement and a grievance procedure, both of which will cover sexual harassment. Individual forces monitor the implementation and effectiveness of their equal opportunities policies, including those dealing with sexual harassment, and the operation of their grievance procedures. In addition, Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary pays close attention to this area during the inspection of individual forces.

Prisons (Private Sector)

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for greater involvement of the private sector in the Prison Service and the targeting of regime activities. [33445]

Miss Widdecombe: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms Anderson) on 4 June, Official Report, column 327.

Prisons (Staff)

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff inquiries about the exit package in the Prison Service have been received; how many staff will be taking the package during the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [33446]

20 Jun 1996 : Column: 539

Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from David Scott to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 20 June 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about exit packages from the Prison Service.
Just over 3,600 staff have applied to be considered for voluntary early retirement or severance. Earlier this year, business plans produced by governors and heads of headquarters groups and units indicated a likely net loss of about 1,500 posts during 1996-97. However, some proposals are being reviewed in the light of changing circumstances. It is not yet possible to say, therefore, exactly how many staff will be offered, and will accept, the exit package during this financial year. We aim to start letting staff know the outcome of their applications shortly.

Mr. Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of days spent on training by prison staff during 1995-96; and if he will make a statement. [33440]

Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from David Scott to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 20 June 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General, to reply to your recent Question about the average number of days spent on training by prison staff during 1995/96.
In 1995/96, the Prison Service monitored staff training for prison officer grades. For these grades, the Service achieved an average of 6.2 days training per member of staff.
In 1996/97, the Service is monitoring the training of all of its staff, and is committed through a new Key Performance Indicator to achieve an average of at least six days training per member of staff.

Prisons (Morale)

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on morale, job satisfaction and security in the Prison Service. [33447]

Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from David Scott to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 20 June 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about morale, job satisfaction and security in the Prison Service.
Prison work by its nature is difficult and demanding. Nevertheless, a staff survey in 1994 indicated that two thirds of staff were satisfied with their jobs, and over half felt proud to work for the Prison Service.

20 Jun 1996 : Column: 540

At present the service needs to lose some posts, but we are seeking as far as possible to achieve this by a mixture of natural wastage and voluntary redundancy.
The next survey is due to be carried out in 1997 and this will provide more up-to-date information.

Police (Strength)

Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed in each police force area for each year since 1980; and how many were employed as beat officers. [32587]

Mr. Maclean: Information on police strength from 1980 to 1995 can be found in the appendix to the annual reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary, copies of which are in the Library. Details of police strength for each force at March 1996 are set out in table A.

Information on the number of officers specifically assigned to beat duties is not available. Information on patrol strength in each force is available from 1991 and is set out in table B.

Police strength in England and Wales as at 31 March 1996

Force	Total police ranks
Avon and Somerset	2,981
Bedfordshire	1,128
Cambridgeshire	1,238
Cheshire	1,975
City of London	869
Cleveland	1,420
Cumbria	1,115
Derbyshire	1,763
Devon and Cornwall	2,899
Dorset	1,263
Durham	1,401
Dyfed-Powys	991
Essex	2,884
Gloucestershire	1,133
Greater Manchester	6,938
Gwent	1,044
Hampshire	3,347
Hertfordshire	1,712
Humberside	2,041
Kent	3,120
Lancashire	3,171
Leicestershire	1,908
Lincolnshire	1,147
Merseyside	4,411
Metropolitan police	27,343
Norfolk	1,401
Northamptonshire	1,153
Northumbria	3,668
North Wales	1,378
North Yorkshire	1,324
Nottinghamshire	2,318
South Wales	3,027
South Yorkshire	3,073
Staffordshire	2,209
Suffolk	1,138
Surrey	1,644
Sussex	3,074
Thames Valley	3,674
Warwickshire	979
West Mercia	2,017
West Midlands	7,145
West Yorkshire	5,142
Wiltshire	1,219

20 Jun 1996 : Column: 541

Police strength--patrol(33)

Force	31 December 1991	31 December 1992	31 December 1993	31 March 1995
Avon and Somerset	1,748	1,693	1,617	1,625
Bedfordshire	603	521	580	518
Cambridgeshire	665	656	649	669
Cheshire	981	1,007	1,051	1,024
City of London	394	360	355	380
Cleveland	849	836	814	816
Cumbria	719	662	673	649
Derbyshire	943	1,045	988	947
Devon and Cornwall	1,579	1,728	1,690	1,661
Dorset	718	746	735	727
Durham	747	778	762	770
Dyfed-Powys	570	593	589	605
Essex	1,591	1,609	1,533	1,531
Gloucestershire	630	645	592	628
Greater Manchester	3,555	3,666	3,577	3,552
Gwent	616	606	611	599
Hampshire	1,888	1,703	1,980	1,980
Hertfordshire	966	926	996	970
Humberside	1,008	1,142	1,099	1,182
Kent	1,954	1,900	1,837	1,531
Lancashire	1,733	1,805	1,726	1,593
Leicestershire	1,087	970	1,003	1,020
Lincolnshire	737	713	761	736
Merseyside	2,389	2,453	2,488	2,573
Metropolitan police	13,286	14,392	14,561	14,684
Norfolk	811	804	799	807
North Wales	818	794	796	798
North Yorkshire	865	811	785	781
Northamptonshire	649	698	729	720
Northumbria	1,897	1,756	1,974	2,149
Nottinghamshire	1,337	1,311	1,349	1,284
South Wales	1,834	1,953	1,985	2,023
South Yorkshire	1,724	1,657	1,694	1,682
Staffordshire	1,091	1,304	1,234	1,314
Suffolk	665	713	732	706
Surrey	1,157	1,007	1,010	879
Sussex	1,870	1,799	1,710	1,543
Thames Valley	1,961	2,017	2,061	2,104
Warwickshire	510	475	510	471
West Mercia	1,320	1,167	1,256	1,199
West Midlands	3,780	3,702	3,524	3,546
West Yorkshire	2,865	2,710	2,616	2,707
Wiltshire	621	632	661	612

(33) Based on returns provided by police forces, showing officers who spend more than 50 per cent. of their time on patrol duties. These include foot, car, beat and dog patrol, and mounted officers.

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