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District Police Forces
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the introduction of police forces at district level. [4389]
Mr. Denham: We have no plans to change the procedures in the Police Act 1996 for the alteration of police areas.
Police Vehicles
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to create central purchasing of (a) UK police vehicles and (b) UK European vehicles; [4390]
- (2) how many police vehicles in current use were bought in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Europe and (c) outside Europe. [4391]
Mr. Denham: There are no plans to arrange central procurement of police vehicles in England and Wales. Since 1992 the Police Information and Technology Organisation, with the support of the National Association of Police Fleet Managers, has put in place a national framework for the purchase of vehicles by the police service. It delivers significant discounts on manufacturers prices. The current national framework was implemented on 1 April 2000 and runs for five years.
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Although the arrangement is not mandatory, the framework has delivered value for money and is well used within the police service. As the arrangement was set up under European Commission (EC) Procurement Directives, forces who purchase from it are not required to undertake any additional tendering, thereby affording further savings to the police service.
Information on the number of vehicles owned by police forces in England and Wales and where they were purchased is not collected. The Scottish Executive are responsible for the police service in Scotland and the arrangements for motor vehicle procurement.
Antisocial Behaviour
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost is of an antisocial behaviour contract. [4295]
Mr. Denham: The acceptable behaviour contract was devised by Islington Council and, following its successful use there, has now been adopted in many other regions. Each area runs the scheme autonomously, and no information on the cost of concluding contracts is held.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been obtained in each police division in England; and if he will make a statement. [4443]
Mr. Denham: Available information given in the table shows the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) made by age group of subject and police force area. As the table shows, ASBOs have been applied for successfully in many parts of the country.
(36) Data collected centrally from Magistrates Courts Committees as from 1 June 2000 onwards
(37) Based on data collected from ACPO and GLA trawls covering period 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000. Information on the age of recipients not available.
(38) Includes City of London
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Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the implementation of antisocial behaviour orders; and what the key obstacles are to proceeding with the necessary court action. [4981]
Mr. Denham: On 15 October 1999 the previous Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), wrote to the chief executive of each local authority asking what could be learned from their experiences in using antisocial behaviour orders and the other measures in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 for combating unruly behaviour, and whether any good practice could be shared. As a result of the representations received a key issue for further guidance appeared to be better local inter-agency co-ordination.
The Home Office and the Local Government Association jointly held 10 regional seminars in March and April last year to help spread good practice in using antisocial behaviour orders. The seminars also served as a consultation exercise for the issue of a model agreement, or protocol, for effective local co-operation in tackling antisocial behaviour. This guidance was launched in June last year. Both the guidance and the seminars were well received, and indicated a widespread willingness to use antisocial behaviour orders.
We are currently conducting a comprehensive review of these orders, now that they have been two years in operation, to evaluate their effectiveness in dealing with antisocial behaviour and to identify best practice in how the legislation is being used. We expect the review to be completed later this year and we will consider the report carefully.
Black Police Association
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he and his predecessor last met representatives of the Black Police Association. [4349]
Mr. Blunkett: I plan to meet representatives of the National Black Police Association in the autumn. My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), last met representatives of the National Black Police Association briefly on 24 January 2001. His ministerial colleague, Lord Bassam, also met them substantively on his behalf, the same day.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has (a) received a copy and (b) received advice from Sir David O'Dowd on the letter dated 7 June from the Chair of the Black Police Association. [4348]
Mr. Denham: The letter dated 7 June from the Chair of the National Black Police Association was to the Permanent Secretary for the Home Department, copied to Sir David O'Dowd. I have now seen a copy of the letter. I have not received any advice on it from Sir David O'Dowd.
Police Service (Employment Claims)
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the numbers of police and civil staff of police services who have employment claims of unfair racial treatment outstanding. [4350]
Mr. Denham: This information is not held centrally although the Association of Chief Police Officers is currently gathering figures on employment claims, which will include the type of claim and ethnicity of claimant. It is for employment tribunals to decide the claims which are brought before them, and for Chief Constables to take whatever management action they consider appropriate in the light of the outcomes.
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