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European Convention on Human Rights
23. Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the incorporation of the European convention on human rights. [11679]
Mr. Straw: We have made rapid progress on this. We introduced the Human Rights Bill in another place last Thursday and we published the White Paper "Rights Brought Home" last Friday.
Private Security Industry
24. Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce the statutory regulation of the private security industry. [11680]
Mr. Michael: We intend to introduce statutory regulation of the private security industry as soon as possible. As we warned in opposition, we will not be able to bring forward legislation in our first year of office, but as is shown by our consultation exercise, we are already working with the industry and others to achieve a consensus on the best way to provide a comprehensive, effective and streamlined system of regulations.
38. Mr. Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce the statutory regulation of the private security industry. [11694]
Mr. Michael: We intend to introduce statutory regulation of the private security industry as soon as possible. We will not be able to bring forward legislation in our first year of office, as we warned before the election, but we have recently completed a consultation exercise with the industry and others on the best way to provide a comprehensive, effective and streamlined system. We want to look beyond the narrow proposals put forward by the previous Government which focused only on criminal record checks for the contract guarding sector of the industry. In opposition we welcomed the recommendations of the Home Affairs Committee on regulation. However, the Committee did not offer a detailed blueprint and in the light of the responses received to the consultation exercise we will consider the industry as a whole to decide what action is needed.
Rural Police Officers
26. Mr. Sayeed:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to recruit more police officers in rural areas. [11682]
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 737
32. Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that police authorities have the resources to enable more police officers to be recruited in rural areas. [11688]
Mr. Michael:
I recognise that people in rural communities have different policing needs from those who live in urban areas, but the Government have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in each force having regard to the resources available to them.
We are working with the police to reduce administrative burdens and to increase civilianisation which will allow chief constables to put more officers on the beat. We also intend to introduce legislation which will place a statutory duty on all local authorities and the police jointly to develop partnerships to reduce crime. Local communities will be able to identify their needs and the strategies to tackle them.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to recruit more police officers in rural areas. [11658]
Mr. Michael:
People in rural communities have different policing needs from those in urban areas, but the Government have no direct control over police numbers in either. Under legislation passed by the previous Government, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in each force, having regard to the resources available to them and their deployment.
We are working with the police to reduce administrative burdens and to enable chief constables to put more officers out into the community. We also intend to introduce legislation which will place a statutory duty on all local authorities and the police jointly to develop partnerships to cut crime in rural and urban areas alike.
27. Mr. Rammell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to give local authorities statutory powers for crime prevention. [11683]
34. Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will introduce to increase the involvement of local authorities in combating crime. [11690]
Mr. Michael:
Details of our proposals were set out in the consultation document, "Getting to Grips with Crime--a new framework for Local Action", which we published on 17 September. It is our intention to require local authorities and the police service together to conduct an audit of local crime and disorder problems, to draw up a strategy for tackling them and to publish targets for delivering the strategy. This process must be conducted on the basis of full consultation with local people and a wide range of other key partners.
28. Mrs. Fiona Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met his European counterparts to discuss crime levels. [11684]
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 738
Ms Quin:
My right hon. Friend and I met all the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers of the European Union on 9 and 10 October and, most recently, on 20 and 21 October my right hon. Friend met the French Justice and Interior Ministers. On both occasions, a useful discussion on a number of crime-related issues took place.
29. Mr. Khabra:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage the voluntary sector to participate in offering opportunities for young people convicted of crimes. [11685]
Mr. Michael:
Through the new deal for unemployed 18-24-year-olds, we are encouraging voluntary organisations to come forward with a wide range of programmes and opportunities which will address the employability needs of young unemployed people, including those convicted of crimes, as well as doing useful work for the community.
In addition, the voluntary sector, in partnership with probation and prison services and other statutory agencies, delivers a range of programmes for young offenders, including drug and alcohol counselling, advice on employment, training and education opportunities, accommodation provision and developmental programmes.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to introduce more severe penalties for young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [11676]
Mr. Michael:
Our proposals for reform of the youth justice system have been set out in three consultation papers published in the last five weeks. Our aim is a faster, more efficient youth justice system with a clear focus on preventing re-offending. A new final warning scheme will end multiple cautions and ensure that firm action is taken quickly when young people offend. A new court order will require young people to make reparation to victims. We will strengthen community penalties and ensure effective custodial sentences for the most serious and persistent young offenders.
30. Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the relationship between anti-social behaviour and crime. [11686]
Mr. Michael:
The British crime survey has demonstrated a link between disorder or low-level misbehaviour and the levels of more serious crime in an area.
Anti-social behaviour also causes alarm and distress and heightens the fear of crime. Tackling this sort of conduct and preventing its escalating into more serious criminal behaviour is a central element in our policy towards making our communities safer. Proposals in the Crime and Disorder Bill which we will introduce later this year will address this directly and we are working with the police on ways to identify and target anti-social behaviour.
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 739
31. Mr. Fallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of places in prisons. [11687]
Ms Quin:
To help with the current population pressures, the Prison Service was allocated a further £43 million in July for this year and next. In total, these resources will create 290 new places on top of those to be provided by the existing building programme and will provide additional staffing and fund regime activities to support the placing of a further 1,830 prisoners in existing accommodation.
The existing building programme will provide 8,600 additional places over this year and the next two years through a combination of expanding existing prisons and building new prisons.
33. Mr. Garnier:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to CCTV schemes. [11689]
37. Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of CCTV in combating crime. [11693]
Mr. Michael:
I strongly support closed circuit television schemes, which can be effective in preventing crime and the fear of crime. They can make a contribution to community safety in general, especially as part of a wider crime prevention strategy. I am currently considering, linked to our review of existing expenditure programmes, how to encourage the appropriate use of CCTV in the fight against crime.
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