House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Jan 2001 (pt 18)

Police Budget

Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the police budget in England and Wales is for the financial years 2000-01 to 2003-04. [146278]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Net budgets for Police Authorities in England and Wales in 2000-01 totalled £7,713.4 million. Each police authority sets its annual budget before 1 March each year, so information for the years from 2001-02 is not available.

Criminal Justice and Police Bill

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons he estimates will be convicted of an offence under Clause 14(4) of the Criminal Justice and Police Bill annually. [147225]

Mr. Charles Clarke: It is not possible to estimate how many convictions there will be each year following arrest for the offence set out in Clause 14 of the Criminal Justice and Police Bill. We expect this provision to have a deterrent effect, restricting the consumption of alcohol in those public places designated in accordance with Clause 15. Arrest will be appropriate only in the circumstances set out in Clause 14, where an individual fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a police officer's requirement that he or she should not consume alcohol in that place or should surrender alcohol and any opened alcohol containers.

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the maximum punishment for each penalty offence in Clause 1 of the Criminal Justice and Police Bill and the maximum fine that a police officer could impose for each offence under Clause 2 of the Bill. [147223]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The maximum sentences available on summary conviction for the offences listed in Clause 1 are given in the table. Clause 3 provides the Secretary of State with a power to determine by order the penalties payable in respect of each offence under the penalty notice scheme, with the restriction that they may not exceed half the amount of the maximum fine for which a person is liable upon conviction. Police officers will have no discretion to vary the amounts of these penalties. No figures for the penalties have yet been set.

25 Jan 2001 : Column: 715W

Maximum sentences for offences listed in clause 1(1) of the Criminal Justice and Police Bill

Offence Description of Offence Maximum sentence

Section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872 Being drunk in a highway, other public place or licensed premises Level 1 fine

Section 80 of the Explosives Act 1875 Throwing fireworks in a thoroughfare Level 5 fine

Section 31 of the Fire Services Act 1947 Knowingly giving a false alarm to a fire brigade Three months imprisonment, Level 4 fine, or both

Section 55 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949 Trespassing on a railway Level 3 fine

Section 56 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949 Throwing stones etc at trains or other things on railways Level 3 fine, plus damages

Section 169 C(3) of the Licensing Act 1964⁽²⁶⁾ Buying or attempting to buy alcohol for consumption in a bar in licensed premises by a person under 18 Level 3 fine

Section 91 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 Disorderly behaviour while drunk in a public place Level 3 fine

Section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1967 Wasting police time or giving false report Six months, Level 4 fine, or both

Section 1(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 Destruction of, or damage to, property without lawful excuse Six months, Level 5 fine, or both

Section 43(1)b of the Telecommunications Act 1984 Using public telecommunications system for sending a message known to be false in order to cause annoyance Six months, or Level 5 fine, or both

Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 Threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour etc within hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress Level 3 fine

Section 14 of (this bill) Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place Level 2 fine

Offence	Description of Offence	Maximum sentence
Section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872	Being drunk in a highway, other public place or licensed premises	Level 1 fine

Section 80 of the Explosives Act 1875	Throwing fireworks in a thoroughfare	Level 5 fine

Section 31 of the Fire Services Act 1947	Knowingly giving a false alarm to a fire brigade	Three months imprisonment, Level 4 fine, or both

Section 55 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949	Trespassing on a railway	Level 3 fine

Section 56 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949	Throwing stones etc at trains or other things on railways	Level 3 fine, plus damages

Section 169 C(3) of the Licensing Act 1964⁽²⁶⁾	Buying or attempting to buy alcohol for consumption in a bar in licensed premises by a person under 18	Level 3 fine

Section 91 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967	Disorderly behaviour while drunk in a public place	Level 3 fine

Section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1967	Wasting police time or giving false report	Six months, Level 4 fine, or both

Section 1(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971	Destruction of, or damage to, property without lawful excuse	Six months, Level 5 fine, or both
Section 43(1)b of the Telecommunications Act 1984	Using public telecommunications system for sending a message known to be false in order to cause annoyance	Six months, or Level 5 fine, or both

Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986	Threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour etc within hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress	Level 3 fine

Section 14 of (this bill)	Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place	Level 2 fine

⁽²⁶⁾ S 169 C(3) of the Licensing Act 1964 replaces S 169(3) of that Act by virtue of the Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000.

Level 1 fine: £200

Level 2 fine: £500

Level 3 fine: £1,000

Level 4 fine: 2,500

Level 5 fine: £5,000

25 Jan 2001 : Column: 717W

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many penalty notices he estimates will be issued for each penalty offence under Clause 2 of the Criminal Justice and Police Bill annually to persons (a) who would otherwise be cautioned, (b) who would otherwise be tried and (c) who would otherwise not be proceeded against in any way; [147224]

Mr. Charles Clarke: It is not possible at this stage to give accurate estimates of the information requested. Numbers of penalty notices issued, and to whom, will depend upon a number of factors, including the levels at which penalties are set and the way in which the police use the new scheme. For the purposes of planning a range of possible outcomes has been considered, varying between 20 per cent. and 95 per cent. of those currently pleading guilty and between 80 per cent. and 50 per cent. of those currently being cautioned being issued instead with a fixed penalty notice.

As for those against whom no action is currently taken, the assumption is that at least 10 per cent. of all notices issued might be in respect of such people.

The Bill includes a power to specify different penalties for different offences. No decision has yet been taken as to what these penalties will be.

A more accurate assessment of numbers will be possible only once decisions have been taken about the level of fixed penalties and in the light of early experience of the scheme.

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many travel restriction orders he estimates will be made under Clause 35 of the Criminal Justice and Police Bill annually. [147227]

Mr. Charles Clarke: This is to be a discretionary power, subject to a sentencing threshold, for the courts to apply when they deem it appropriate. But the number of offenders liable to such a ban, based on 1998 sentencing data, would be in the region of 300 to 400.

25 Jan 2001 : Column: 718W

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his original estimate was of the number of anti-social behaviour orders that would be issued annually; how that estimate has been revised; and if he will make a statement. [147226]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The figures in the Financial and Explanatory Memorandum to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 were based on the possibility that up to 5,000 orders might be made in any one year. We have not revised that estimate and have no plans to do so, since we are not seeking to set a national target for such orders.

It is more important that, where an order is made, it should be made on the basis that it will be the most effective method for dealing with a specific case. Our priority in this area is that local crime and disorder partnerships should be making effective use of all their powers to protect the rights of all citizens to lead their lives free from harassment and disorder.

Fire-related Deaths

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of fire- related deaths in the home was in each of the last five years; what the total number of reported fires was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [145715]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information contained in the table, relates to fires attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom.

Number of fires⁽²⁷⁾ and fire-related deaths--1995 to 1999

United Kingdom 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999⁽²⁷⁾

Total fire deaths 736 709 723 668 663

of which:

dwellings 559 564 562 519 466

Total fires⁽²⁸⁾ 604,200 532,300 469,000 409,700 467,900

of which:

dwellings 68,700 71,700 72,500 71,100 72,100

United Kingdom	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999⁽²⁷⁾
Total fire deaths	736	709	723	668	663
of which:
dwellings	559	564	562	519	466

Total fires⁽²⁸⁾	604,200	532,300	469,000	409,700	467,900
of which:
dwellings	68,700	71,700	72,500	71,100	72,100

⁽²⁷⁾ 1999 data for fires attended are provisional. Figures for fire-related deaths have been estimated to account for revisions expected due to further information becoming available from inquests and death certificates etc.

⁽²⁸⁾ Consists of primary (property and/or involving casualties), secondary (mainly outdoors not involving property) and chimney fires.

25 Jan 2001 : Column: 719W

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds of designing and preparing the new website for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [147147]

Mrs. Roche: The redesigned website was launched in December 2000 as part of the Home Office's ongoing commitment to drive forward e-government. The total cost of the redesign was approximately £150,000 representing Immigration and Nationality Directorate staff costs and external technical and design provision.

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