House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 6 Jul 2000 (pt 18)

Mobile Police Units

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of mobile police units to help police rural areas. [128534]

Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 5 July 2000]: The Government welcome imaginative and innovative ways of working by the police, including the use where appropriate of mobile units. To enhance policing in rural areas we have recently announced the allocation of a

6 Jul 2000 : Column: 301W

specific £15 million from the Police Modernisation Fund. This will provide a significant boost to police capabilities and bring direct benefit to the countryside. How the best use is made of the resources available and how the police operate in particular local circumstances are matters for the local Chief Constable.

Burns Inquiry

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of the implementation of the Burns report on banning hunting with hounds, (1) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be lost (a) directly and (b) indirectly as a result of the ban; [129039]

(a)

(b)

(c)

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The consequences of a ban on hunting with dogs will be considered as the legislative options for a Hunting Bill are drawn up.

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Fraud

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fraud cases were investigated in each police authority area in (a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) each year since 1995; what was the clear-up rate in each year; and what estimate he has made of the value of such fraud in each year since 1995. [129129]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Fraud offences comprise part of the offence group covering both fraud and forgery. The number of fraud and forgery offences recorded in the years requested in each police force, and the clear-up rate, are given in the tables.

The counting rules for recorded crime changed from 1 April 1998. The effect on the number of fraud and forgery offences recorded was substantial, resulting in an estimated increase of 61 per cent. due to counting rules changes in England and Wales as a whole.

The Economic Cost of Fraud, a report for the Home Office and the Serious Fraud Office, will be published by National Economic Research Associates (NERA) on Tuesday 11 July. The report will provide estimates of expenditure on investigations, court proceedings and preventative measures, and the amounts of money defrauded across all sectors of the economy, for the years 1997 and 1998.

6 Jul 2000 : Column: 301W

Fraud and forgery offences

1979 1983 1987 1992

Police force Offences recorded Clear-up rate (%) Offences recorded Clear-up rate (%) Offences recorded Clear-up rate (%) Offences recorded Clear-up rate (%)

Avon and Somerset 2,570 90 3,507 78 5,537 75 5,699 46

Bedfordshire 1,783 90 1,199 60 1,648 59 2,101 42

Cambridgeshire 928 87 910 70 967 66 1,764 49

Cheshire 982 98 1,690 91 1,642 83 2,414 74

Cleveland 2,140 78 1,501 65 2,598 58 1,679 36

Cumbria 1,094 91 622 74 935 81 858 63

Derbyshire 2,547 94 1,973 90 1,489 84 1,349 55

Devon and Cornwall 2,289 86 3,628 87 3,849 79 3,601 46

Dorset 2,271 92 2,178 84 2,824 83 3,726 87

Durham 1,391 97 1,497 86 1,840 18 2,572 75

Essex 2,281 86 1,734 61 1,966 60 3,670 40

Gloucestershire 780 92 876 69 1,356 82 2,087 46

Greater Manchester 8,066 96 13,746 87 12,426 83 11,819 74

Hampshire 4,231 91 2,826 67 3,862 73 5,146 61

Hertfordshire 3,437 97 1,660 84 2,531 90 1,594 51

Humberside 1,217 84 1,525 76 2,827 55 3,184 44

Kent 2,672 89 1,482 58 1,842 60 4,356 40

Lancashire 2,512 94 2,791 84 4,384 92 3,833 80

Leciestershire 1,349 93 2,107 81 2,048 76 3,156 51

Lincolnshire 690 82 809 70 933 61 1,404 64

City of London 407 52 372 56 499 46 485 45

Merseyside 3,342 83 5,416 81 4,680 73 5,098 73

Metropolitan police district 25,954 60 29,714 49 27,892 47 39,664 44

Norfolk 1,108 86 1,001 77 1,096 72 1,814 57

Northamptonshire 1,285 86 1,058 78 1,237 65 1,556 52

Northumbria 2,413 89 2,204 57 3,081 71 3,507 37

North Yorkshire 1,267 93 895 77 1,070 77 1,033 72

Nottinghamshire 2,850 78 2,116 54 2,760 57 4,023 37

South Yorkshire 1,845 89 1,648 73 1,638 75 2,009 60

Staffordshire 1,668 84 1,128 65 1,371 68 2,246 46

Suffolk 1,364 89 831 71 1,086 71 1,772 73

Surrey 2,156 91 1,136 62 1,178 66 2,078 44

Sussex 3,062 90 1,745 65 2,692 64 3,820 53

Thames Valley 5,049 91 4,214 74 4,352 67 7,651 43

Warwickshire 584 91 505 69 553 66 1,129 52

West Mercia 1,685 91 1,344 77 1,039 74 1,342 56

West Midlands 4,640 76 6,111 53 5,609 55 8,293 39

West Yorkshire 3,717 70 4,123 71 4,388 73 6,183 64

Wiltshire 1,046 80 1,023 76 851 66 1,711 66

Dyfed-Powys 1,019 96 1,116 93 1,660 91 906 79

Gwent 1,262 96 1,292 91 1,479 92 1,095 72

North Wales 2,125 90 1,615 85 1,949 87 1,354 66

South Wales 2,955 92 2,923 83 3,339 74 3,819 43

Total 118,033 82 121,791 69 132,976 67 168,600 53

	1979	1983	1987	1992
Police force	Offences recorded	Clear-up rate (%)	Offences recorded	Clear-up rate (%)	Offences recorded	Clear-up rate (%)	Offences recorded	Clear-up rate (%)
Avon and Somerset	2,570	90	3,507	78	5,537	75	5,699	46
Bedfordshire	1,783	90	1,199	60	1,648	59	2,101	42
Cambridgeshire	928	87	910	70	967	66	1,764	49
Cheshire	982	98	1,690	91	1,642	83	2,414	74
Cleveland	2,140	78	1,501	65	2,598	58	1,679	36
Cumbria	1,094	91	622	74	935	81	858	63
Derbyshire	2,547	94	1,973	90	1,489	84	1,349	55
Devon and Cornwall	2,289	86	3,628	87	3,849	79	3,601	46
Dorset	2,271	92	2,178	84	2,824	83	3,726	87
Durham	1,391	97	1,497	86	1,840	18	2,572	75
Essex	2,281	86	1,734	61	1,966	60	3,670	40
Gloucestershire	780	92	876	69	1,356	82	2,087	46
Greater Manchester	8,066	96	13,746	87	12,426	83	11,819	74
Hampshire	4,231	91	2,826	67	3,862	73	5,146	61
Hertfordshire	3,437	97	1,660	84	2,531	90	1,594	51
Humberside	1,217	84	1,525	76	2,827	55	3,184	44
Kent	2,672	89	1,482	58	1,842	60	4,356	40
Lancashire	2,512	94	2,791	84	4,384	92	3,833	80
Leciestershire	1,349	93	2,107	81	2,048	76	3,156	51
Lincolnshire	690	82	809	70	933	61	1,404	64
City of London	407	52	372	56	499	46	485	45
Merseyside	3,342	83	5,416	81	4,680	73	5,098	73
Metropolitan police district	25,954	60	29,714	49	27,892	47	39,664	44
Norfolk	1,108	86	1,001	77	1,096	72	1,814	57
Northamptonshire	1,285	86	1,058	78	1,237	65	1,556	52
Northumbria	2,413	89	2,204	57	3,081	71	3,507	37
North Yorkshire	1,267	93	895	77	1,070	77	1,033	72
Nottinghamshire	2,850	78	2,116	54	2,760	57	4,023	37
South Yorkshire	1,845	89	1,648	73	1,638	75	2,009	60
Staffordshire	1,668	84	1,128	65	1,371	68	2,246	46
Suffolk	1,364	89	831	71	1,086	71	1,772	73
Surrey	2,156	91	1,136	62	1,178	66	2,078	44
Sussex	3,062	90	1,745	65	2,692	64	3,820	53
Thames Valley	5,049	91	4,214	74	4,352	67	7,651	43
Warwickshire	584	91	505	69	553	66	1,129	52
West Mercia	1,685	91	1,344	77	1,039	74	1,342	56
West Midlands	4,640	76	6,111	53	5,609	55	8,293	39
West Yorkshire	3,717	70	4,123	71	4,388	73	6,183	64
Wiltshire	1,046	80	1,023	76	851	66	1,711	66
Dyfed-Powys	1,019	96	1,116	93	1,660	91	906	79
Gwent	1,262	96	1,292	91	1,479	92	1,095	72
North Wales	2,125	90	1,615	85	1,949	87	1,354	66
South Wales	2,955	92	2,923	83	3,339	74	3,819	43

Total	118,033	82	121,791	69	132,976	67	168,600	53

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Fraud and forgery offences

1995 1996 1997 1998-99

Police force Offences recorded Clear-up rate (%) Offences recorded Clear-up rate (%) Offences recorded Clear-up rate (%) Offences recorded Clear-up rate (%)

Avon and Somerset 4,017 45 4,293 49 3,584 44 9,950 39

Bedfordshire 1,781 37 2,033 49 1,799 41 4,114 27

Cambridgeshire 1,369 41 1,498 44 1,391 42 2,389 42

Cheshire 2,639 79 2,359 83 1,845 80 2,146 72

Cleveland 1,481 53 1,475 46 1,425 34 2,261 41

Cumbria 930 70 995 67 1,099 68 1,388 78

Derbyshire 1,399 46 1,355 44 1,308 48 4,200 48

Devon and Cornwall 2,674 57 2,374 59 2,232 59 7,064 47

Dorset 1,501 68 1,303 64 1,300 65 6,334 51

Durham 1,661 62 1,279 64 1,163 75 1,311 74

Essex 2,465 42 2,485 41 2,443 44 4,366 41

Gloucestershire 1,986 52 1,652 48 1,517 49 2,527 50

Greater Manchester 5,840 48 5,532 42 5,773 39 15,830 41

Hampshire 3,892 59 3,907 58 3,781 60 5,130 61

Hertfordshire 1,232 47 1,237 47 1,345 39 2,312 46

Humberside 2,966 52 2,610 44 2,316 55 3,582 54

Kent 3,627 44 3,155 54 2,932 47 5,687 42

Lancashire 3,484 77 3,446 73 3,412 70 4,446 63

Leciestershire 2,681 47 3,365 52 2,870 46 7,227 39

Lincolnshire 1,163 63 1,148 61 1,382 78 2,723 78

City of London 488 51 439 54 502 42 862 36

Merseyside 4,259 64 4,288 60 4,269 59 4,884 59

Metropolitan police district 32,838 46 38,983 45 42,687 41 80,541 15

Norfolk 1,345 62 1,251 62 1,045 74 2,488 63

Northamptonshire 1,217 61 1,246 63 1,266 76 4,425 39

Northumbria 2,606 43 2,109 44 2,221 46 4,991 58

North Yorkshire 1,032 55 1,052 58 980 55 2,563 67

Nottinghamshire 3,701 34 3,352 36 2,874 36 4,736 32

South Yorkshire 2,524 35 2,651 32 2,367 40 3,951 59

Staffordshire 1,905 46 2,004 50 2,200 55 3,830 44

Suffolk 1,243 70 1,333 69 1,116 74 2,099 49

Surrey 1,442 55 1,389 52 1,332 55 2,994 51

Sussex 2,763 57 2,815 56 2,994 54 7,790 25

Thames Valley 4,732 46 4,551 44 4,174 38 11,778 25

Warwickshire 901 51 975 51 898 51 2,401 38

West Mercia 1,739 50 1,894 44 1,881 39 3,961 57

West Midlands 7,624 27 6,365 33 4,844 44 15,675 31

West Yorkshire 4,818 55 5,071 55 5,244 55 10,608 45

Wiltshire 1,012 63 920 56 830 53 1,933 56

Dyfed-Powys 577 84 604 75 482 82 1,402 86

Gwent 933 71 1,305 64 1,415 65 2,395 67

North Wales 1,130 71 1,022 68 844 68 1,869 74

South Wales 3,399 33 3,105 38 3,016 36 6,340 44

Total 133,016 50 136,225 49 134,398 48 279,503 36

	1995	1996	1997	1998-99
Police force	Offences recorded	Clear-up rate (%)	Offences recorded	Clear-up rate (%)	Offences recorded	Clear-up rate (%)	Offences recorded	Clear-up rate (%)
Avon and Somerset	4,017	45	4,293	49	3,584	44	9,950	39
Bedfordshire	1,781	37	2,033	49	1,799	41	4,114	27
Cambridgeshire	1,369	41	1,498	44	1,391	42	2,389	42
Cheshire	2,639	79	2,359	83	1,845	80	2,146	72
Cleveland	1,481	53	1,475	46	1,425	34	2,261	41
Cumbria	930	70	995	67	1,099	68	1,388	78
Derbyshire	1,399	46	1,355	44	1,308	48	4,200	48
Devon and Cornwall	2,674	57	2,374	59	2,232	59	7,064	47
Dorset	1,501	68	1,303	64	1,300	65	6,334	51
Durham	1,661	62	1,279	64	1,163	75	1,311	74
Essex	2,465	42	2,485	41	2,443	44	4,366	41
Gloucestershire	1,986	52	1,652	48	1,517	49	2,527	50
Greater Manchester	5,840	48	5,532	42	5,773	39	15,830	41
Hampshire	3,892	59	3,907	58	3,781	60	5,130	61
Hertfordshire	1,232	47	1,237	47	1,345	39	2,312	46
Humberside	2,966	52	2,610	44	2,316	55	3,582	54
Kent	3,627	44	3,155	54	2,932	47	5,687	42
Lancashire	3,484	77	3,446	73	3,412	70	4,446	63
Leciestershire	2,681	47	3,365	52	2,870	46	7,227	39
Lincolnshire	1,163	63	1,148	61	1,382	78	2,723	78
City of London	488	51	439	54	502	42	862	36
Merseyside	4,259	64	4,288	60	4,269	59	4,884	59
Metropolitan police district	32,838	46	38,983	45	42,687	41	80,541	15
Norfolk	1,345	62	1,251	62	1,045	74	2,488	63
Northamptonshire	1,217	61	1,246	63	1,266	76	4,425	39
Northumbria	2,606	43	2,109	44	2,221	46	4,991	58
North Yorkshire	1,032	55	1,052	58	980	55	2,563	67
Nottinghamshire	3,701	34	3,352	36	2,874	36	4,736	32
South Yorkshire	2,524	35	2,651	32	2,367	40	3,951	59
Staffordshire	1,905	46	2,004	50	2,200	55	3,830	44
Suffolk	1,243	70	1,333	69	1,116	74	2,099	49
Surrey	1,442	55	1,389	52	1,332	55	2,994	51
Sussex	2,763	57	2,815	56	2,994	54	7,790	25
Thames Valley	4,732	46	4,551	44	4,174	38	11,778	25
Warwickshire	901	51	975	51	898	51	2,401	38
West Mercia	1,739	50	1,894	44	1,881	39	3,961	57
West Midlands	7,624	27	6,365	33	4,844	44	15,675	31
West Yorkshire	4,818	55	5,071	55	5,244	55	10,608	45
Wiltshire	1,012	63	920	56	830	53	1,933	56
Dyfed-Powys	577	84	604	75	482	82	1,402	86
Gwent	933	71	1,305	64	1,415	65	2,395	67
North Wales	1,130	71	1,022	68	844	68	1,869	74
South Wales	3,399	33	3,105	38	3,016	36	6,340	44

Total	133,016	50	136,225	49	134,398	48	279,503	36

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Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of credit card fraud there have been in each year since 1995; what the clean up rate was in each year; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meeting with credit card systems and providers. [129128]

6 Jul 2000 : Column: 304W

Mr. Charles Clarke: A separate recorded crime figure for cheque and credit card fraud has been collected since 1 April 1998. The number of offences in the year ending March 1999 was 141,948, with the clear-up rate for these offences being 31 per cent.

6 Jul 2000 : Column: 305W

On 27 June, I chaired a constructive and positive meeting with cheque and credit card systems providers, retailers and law enforcement agencies. The discussion was wide- ranging: information-sharing, cross-border co-operation, the European and international dimension to fraud, the role of law enforcement agencies, hotspots, education and training were all given serious consideration.

It was agreed that, in addition to the work already being taken forward by the banking and retail industries on the development of new technologies, the Home Office would lead work on information sharing and the involvement of the relevant law enforcement agencies, with a particular remit to consider how to target and tackle hotspots. The group will reconvene in autumn to review progress.

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