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Vandalism
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions about tenants who daub graffiti or commit other acts of vandalism on their estates. [134548]
Mr. Charles Clarke: There have been no discussions on this specific issue. However, my Department and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions are working closely to take forward the Policy Action Team's report on Anti-Social Behaviour (PAT 8), in particular the provision of comprehensive good practice guidance for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and Anti-Social Behaviour on the three key issues of prevention, enforcement and resettlement.
The PAT 8 report on Anti-Social Behaviour was published in March and builds on the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to take forward action to combat anti-social behaviour, including problems such as graffiti, vandalism, nuisance neighbours, and other problems on housing estates.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to (a) the police and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service on the apprehension and prosecution of graffiti vandals. [135011]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Guidance to the Crown Prosecution Service is not a matter for the Home Office. I have not identified any need for guidance to the police on this subject but I do attach great importance to the protection of communities from defacement of property and other forms of disorder. The Government's consultation paper "Reducing Public Disorder: the Role of Fixed Penalty Notices" canvassed views on proposals to use fixed penalties for a range of offences. Views were specifically sought on what offences, including criminal damage, might be suitably dealt with in this way.
Police (Early Retirement)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have taken early retirement in each of the past three years. [134549]
Mr. Charles Clarke: There is no provision within the police pension scheme for officers to retire early with an actuarially reduced pension. Maximum pension benefits are payable on completion of 30 years' service and most officers retire having completed at least 30 years' service. Some retire with shorter service on reaching compulsory retirement age. There is provision within the scheme for
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officers to retire on completion of 25 years' service, with a pension payable from age 50. Officers may also retire with an immediate pension before completion of 30 years or reaching compulsory retirement age, on the grounds of ill-health. Figures for ill-health retirements are as follows:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 1,810 |
| 1998-99 | 1,642 |
| 1999-2000 | 1,232 |
Schengen Information System
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Schengen Information System inquiries have been made by the UK to date; and what estimate he has made of the number in total for the first year of the UK membership. [134804]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The United Kingdom does not yet put data on the Schengen Information System or have access to the Schengen Information System data. No inquiries of the System have therefore been made. The United Kingdom will not make any inquiries of the System during its first year of membership.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his assessment of the level of security of Schengen Information System (a) data and (b) premises. [134794]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Schengen Implementation Convention provides for comprehensive controls over national sections of the Schengen Information System (N.SIS), the central service computer facility in Strasbourg (C.SIS) and the data on the Schengen Information System itself. I have no reason to doubt that the security arrangements in place are in accordance with these provisions and I have no plans to seek to have them modified.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which national authority will supervise the UK element of the Schengen Information System under Article 114 of the Convention. [134792]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The United Kingdom's application of 20 May 1999 to participate in certain provisions of the Schengen Implementing Convention stated that the United Kingdom Data Protection Commissioner will be the supervisory authority responsible for the activities described in Article 114.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many United Kingdom nationals have requested that a check be made on the Schengen Information System data pertaining to them and on the use made thereof; what procedure is involved; and if he will make a statement. [134791]
Mr. Charles Clarke: As the United Kingdom does not put data on the Schengen Information System or have access to the data, there are at present no arrangements in the United Kingdom enabling individuals to make checks.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK subjects have been included in the Schengen Information System. [134683]
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Mr. Charles Clarke: The United Kingdom does not put data on the Schengen Information System (SIS) or have access to SIS data.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards recognising documents issued by the Schengen Joint Supervisory Authority indicating that a passport holder is the subject of criminal imposture, as indicated in the JSA opinion of March 2000; [134817]
- (2) if he will make a statement on his policy towards providing information to the Schengen Information System on people of usurped identity, where that individual has been the subject of imposture by a criminal. [134803]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Replacement travel documents issued by United Kingdom authorities for those that have been stolen or misappropriated are easily distinguishable from the stolen documents. Accordingly, the United Kingdom does not intend adopting the procedure followed by other Schengen states which involves the recording of fingerprints and photographs of persons whose identity has been usurped.
The Joint Supervisory Authority does not issue documents indicating usurped identity.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those categories of suspects from the UK that are placed on the Schengen Information System; and if he will list those categories of information which may be stored. [134790]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Articles 95, 98 and 99 of the Schengen Implementing Convention lists those categories of wanted persons and suspects whose details may be placed on the Schengen Information System. Article 94 of the Schengen Convention sets out those items of information which may be stored in relation to any person whose details are entered on the Schengen Information System. The United Kingdom is not yet participating in the System and has, therefore, made no entries in relation to any suspect from the United Kingdom. A copy of the Schengen Implementing Convention may be found in the Library.
Schengen States (Illegal Immigration)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to the Schengen Secretariat with regard to combating illegal immigration to the UK from Schengen states; and if he will make a statement. [134809]
Mrs. Roche: No representations have been made to the Schengen Secretariat (as part of the incorporation of Schengen into the European Union, the Schengen Secretariat has been subsumed into the Council Secretariat).
However, the United Kingdom is fully engaged in discussions at European Union level about combating illegal immigration, both from within and from outside the European Union. The United Kingdom is co-operating fully within Europol, where combating illegal immigration and trafficking receive top priority. We have extensive
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operational contacts with our European Union colleagues. We also hold regular bilateral discussions with policy officials of other member states.
The United Kingdom is currently involved in negotiations on a number of measures at European Union level, aimed at combating illegal immigration, clandestine entry and facilitation. These include: a draft Directive defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, movement and residence; a draft Council Framework Decision on strengthening the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of unauthorised entry and residence; and a draft Council Directive about harmonisation of financial penalties imposed on carriers transporting into the territory of member states third-country nationals not having the documents necessary for admission.
Police Fatalities and Injuries
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been (a) killed and (b) permanently incapacitated in the course of their duties in each of the past three years. [134540]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The most recently available details for officers killed in the course of their duties are as follows. The figures include officers killed in vehicle accidents, attacks by assailants, and in pursuing a suspect.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1999 | 8 |
The numbers of officers permanently incapacitated in the course of their duties is not collected centrally.
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