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Detective Keith Pedder
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers manuscripts and other documents belonging to former detective Keith Pedder were (a) seized and (b) continue to be held; and if Keith Pedder is entitled to have access to them. [117016]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 16 March 2000, Official Report, column 268W. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the documentation forms part of an ongoing investigation and that it would not be appropriate for him to comment further at this stage.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will write to the hon. Member for Thurrock when the inquiry into the complaint of former detective Keith Pedder is completed. [117013]
Police Complaints Process
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 2000, Official Report, column 267W, on the CIB/Kent police investigation, what was the purpose and cost of the CIB/Kent police investigation; and when it was completed. [116966]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the purpose was to investigate the criminal activities of persons involved in the supply of drugs. The combined cost of the Criminal Investigation Bureau/Kent investigation was in the region of £417,000. It was completed in November 1999.
Operation Cornwall
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost, to date, of Operation Cornwall. [117015]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that it would be inappropriate, for operational reasons, to provide details of the costs associated with this ongoing inquiry.
Prison Service
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are employed in the Prison Service; and what proportion this represents of the total work force. [116850]
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Mr. Boateng:
The total number of women employed in the Prison Service in England and Wales on 29 February 2000 was 11,639. This represents 26.7 per cent. of the total work force.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to legislate to allow DNA samples given voluntarily by members of the public in the course of a police investigation to be retained by the police provided consent has been given by the donor. [117283]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
This proposal was included in the consultation exercise on "Proposals for Revising Legislative Measures on Fingerprints, Footprints and DNA Samples", launched on 30 July 1999. We are now considering the most appropriate way to take these proposals forward.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Metropolitan police PFI contract for vehicle supply and maintenance; [117333]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Chairman of the Nottinghamshire Police Authority wrote to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 2 March seeking information about the Metropolitan Police Service contract for the repair and maintenance of its vehicle fleet. It is for the Metropolitan police to assess the effectiveness of the contract. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the monitoring of repairs has shown some work not up to the required standard and that the Metropolitan police is taking a rigorous approach with the contractor in addressing those concerns.
Mr. Corbett:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken for (a) issuing and (b) renewing firearm certificates and shotgun licences in (i) Devon and Cornwall, (ii) Avon and Somerset, (iii) South Wales, (iv) Northumberland, (v) West Midlands and (vi) Cambridgeshire; and what the figures were in each of the previous five years. [117525]
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Mr. Charles Clarke:
The information is not kept centrally, but I understand from the forces concerned that the average number of weeks taken for issuing and renewing firearm certificates and shotgun licences is given in the tables.
(2) what recent representations he has received from the Nottinghamshire police about the effectiveness of the Metropolitan police PFI contract for vehicle supply and maintenance. [117332]
| Issue | Renewal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firearms | Shotguns | Firearms | Shotguns | |
| Devon and Cornwall | 10-12 | 10-12 | 10-12 | 10-12 |
| Avon and Somerset | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| South Wales | 8-10 | 6-8 | 8-10 | 6-8 |
| Northumbria | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 |
| West Midlands | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Cambridgeshire | 5.2 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon and Cornwall | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- |
| Avon and Somerset | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- |
| South Wales | |||||
| Firearms grant | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 |
| Firearms renewal(53) | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | (52)-- | (52)-- |
| Shotgun grant | 5-7 | 5-7 | 5-7 | 5-7 | 5-7 |
| Shotgun renewal(53) | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | (52)-- | (52)-- |
| Northumbria | |||||
| Firearms grant | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 |
| Firearms renewal(54) | .5 | .5 | .5 | (52)-- | (52)-- |
| Shotgun grant | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 6-8 |
| Shotgun renewal(54) | .5 | .5 | .5 | (52)-- | (52)-- |
| West Midlands | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- | (52)-- |
| Cambridgeshire | |||||
| Firearms grant | 4.4 | 5.4 | 4 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| Firearms renewal | 3 | 5 | 3.1 | (52)-- | (52)-- |
| Shotgun grant | 3 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| Shotgun renewal | 1.7 | 3.4 | 2.4 | (52)-- | (52)-- |
(52) Not applicable
(53) Renewals by post 1-3 weeks
(54) Postal
Note:
Not all forces were able to provide information for the previous 5 years. There were in any event no renewals in 1998 and 1999 due to the extended life of certificates from 3-5 years.
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) civilians are involved in the administration of firearm and shotgun controls; and what the figures were in each of the previous five years in (i) Devon and Cornwall, (ii) Avon and Somerset, (iii) Northumberland, (iv) West Midlands and (v) Cambridgeshire. [117539]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The information is not held centrally, but the information, obtained from the forces concerned, is given in the table.
3 Apr 2000 : Column: 381W
| Devon & Cornwall | Avon & Somerset | Northumbria | West Midlands | Cambridgeshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police Officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | (55)27 | 0 | (57)150 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | (56)22 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | (56)22 | 0 | 25 | 7 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | (56)22 | 0 | 25 | 11 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | (56)22 | 0 | 25 | 12 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | (56)22 | (56)-- | 25 | 12 | 0
| Civilians |
| 2000 | (55)47 | 22 | 8 | 17 | 9.5
| 1999 | 10 | 19 | 8 | 16 | 9.5
| 1998 | 10 | 19 | 8 | 13 | 9.5
| 1997 | 13 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 10.5
| 1996 | 13 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 10.5
| 1995 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 10.5
| | ||
(55) Also deal with other non-firearms related inquiries as part of their duties.
(56) Supported by beat officers as needed.
(57) Specifically trained to carry out firearms inquiries as well as their other duties.
3 Apr 2000 : Column: 383W
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