| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Gulf War (Detentions)
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 350W, on detentions, how many of the (a) Iraqis and (b) Palestinians detained during the Gulf War were compensated. [18616]
Angela Eagle: No Iraqis or Palestinians have been paid compensation for their detention during the Gulf War.
An out of court settlement of £20,000 was made in the case of one Iraqi, who sued the Home Office for damages for false imprisonment.
18 Dec 2001 : Column: 251W
Public Bodies
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those public bodies which are the responsibility of his Department and which are not listed in Public Bodies 2000. [17595]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 333W.
Recidivism
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to collect and publish information on reoffending rates by penal institution. [22286]
Beverley Hughes: Reoffending rates are not normally measured as they rely on the self-reporting of offending by offenders. Such an approach can lead to questions over the reliability of data based on individuals' recollection and willingness to impart their offending behaviour to an official source.
Reconviction rates for all prisoners are published annually in Prison Statistics England and Wales, copies of which are available in the Library.
It is not appropriate, as a matter of routine, to publish reconviction rates by establishment. This is because the data source which enables prison reconviction rates to be measured only identifies the establishment from which an offender is finally discharged; a prisoner may have spent the majority of their time in custody in other establishments. The number of offenders finally discharged from individual establishments can be so small that any results produced would not be statistically robust.
Child Pornography
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to tackle child pornography on the internet. [22113]
Beverley Hughes: The Government are committed to tackling child pornography on the internet. We are determined to ensure that there are effective measures to combat this exploitation of children. In January 2001 we raised the maximum penalties for taking, making, distributing or showing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children to 10 years (from three years), and the maximum penalty for simple possession of such material to five years (from six months).
We have made substantial investment in law enforcement to enhance the capability of the police to investigate serious and organised crime committed via computers or computer networks, such as the internet. In April, the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit was established, within the National Crime Squad, to investigate or support the investigation of such serious criminal activity, including the production and distribution of child pornography.
In March, a task force on child protection on the internet was established to identify and implement the best ways in which children can be better protected when using the internet. Within the task force, Government, industry, the police and the children's charities have come
18 Dec 2001 : Column: 252W
together to, among other things, scope new legislative measures specifically to tackle 'grooming' of children by paedophiles online (and offline).
We support the work of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which was set up in 1996 by internet service providers to enable members of the public, via a hotline, to report child pornography and other potentially illegal material in a newsgroup or website. If the material is considered illegal, the foundation passes details to the United Kingdom police to initiate action against the originators and asks British internet service providers (ISPs) to deny access to the sites concerned. If the originators are abroad, the foundation passes the report to the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) who liaise with the enforcement agencies of the countries concerned. Since it was established, the IWF has asked United Kingdom internet service providers to remove nearly 30,000 illegal items from the internet.
Internationally, the Government actively support efforts within the European Union, and more widely, to combat child pornography on the internet. In November, we signed the Council of Europe convention on cybercrime, which will underpin co-operative action between signatory states in respect of computer-related crimes, including the making, distribution and possession of child pornography.
Internet Chat Rooms
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the dangers of children being targeted by paedophiles using internet chat rooms. [22112]
Beverley Hughes: On 3 December the Government launched a £1.5 million advertising campaign to deliver clear and consistent messages to internet users so they can enjoy the massive benefits of the internet in safety.
The campaign is split in two discrete but complementary campaigns. One aimed at parents of 11 to 14-year-olds has begun. The other, aimed at 14 to 16-year-olds, starts in early January 2002. The whole campaign will run until March.
The parents campaign started on 3 December with press advertisements in the national press and women's weekly magazines. The adverts explain the benefits of the internet and offer advice to parents on how to help their children chat safely online. Parents who want further information can call the UKonline centre (0800 77 1234) for a booklet about chatrooms or download the leaflet online by visiting www.wiseuptothenet.co.uk.
The campaign for young people will involve cinema, radio, online and teen press advertising. A dedicated website (www.thinkuknow.co.uk) will provide further information and advice.
The campaign was initiated by the task force on child protection on the internet. Created by the Home Secretary in March this year, the task force is a partnership of Government, industry, police and charitable organisations working together to tackle the danger posed to children by online paedophiles. It has two simple but ambitious aims: to make the United Kingdom the best and safest
18 Dec 2001 : Column: 253W
place in the world for children to use the internet; and to help protect children the world over from abuse fuelled by criminal misuse of new technologies.
Crime Reduction Funding
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give (a) the reasons for the projected change in net provision of money for police and crime reduction in 2001–02, (b) details of those areas of action which have received less funding than was provided for at the commencement of financial year 2001–02 and (c) examples of measures which are funded under Request for Resources 1-A. [22131]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 10 December 2001]: The projected change in net provision of £23,746,000 for policing and crime reduction in 2001–02 arises from:
- the transfer of provision to other parts of the Home Office and to other government departments that administer policing, crime reduction and anti-drugs initiatives on behalf of the Home Office's Policing and Crime Reduction Group;
the uptake of End Year Flexibility in respect of the Crime Reduction Programme and the Confiscated Assets Fund;
the transfer from the Cabinet Office to the Home Office in June 2001 of responsibility for the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit; and
a transfer of provision from the Prison Service in support of police scientific development work.
Request for Resources 1-A is intended to meet the cost of delivering a wide range of policing, crime reduction and anti-drugs initiatives. Examples include:
- the recruitment and training of police officers under the Crime Fighting Fund;
Crime Reduction Programme funding to trial the effectiveness of a range of crime reduction initiatives;
the expansion of the database of DNA samples.
Publicity Campaigns
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total costs to date are of publicity campaigns for (a) police recruitment and (b) vehicle crime prevention. [22134]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 10 December 2001]: The total costs to date for the police recruitment and vehicle crime reduction publicity campaigns are as follows:
- 2000–01
- Police £7.35 million
- Vehicle crime reduction £8.67 million
- April 2001 to date
- Police £4.78 million
- Vehicle crime reduction £4.26 million.
Resource Allocation
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give (a) the reasons for the projected change in net provision of money for criminal policy and programmes in 2001–02, (b) details of those areas of action which have received less funding than was
18 Dec 2001 : Column: 254W
provided for at the commencement of financial year 2001–02 and (c) examples of measures which are funded under Request for Resources B1. [22133]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 10 December 2001]: (a) Reasons for the changes are set out in Command Paper 5514 Home Office Winter Supplementary Estimates, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
(b) No areas of action funded under B1 have received less funding than was provided for at the commencement of the current financial year other than for the reasons set out at (a) above. However underspends in these areas may be redirected to other priority areas later in the current financial year.
(c) The principal activities funded under B1 are the National Probation Service, and the administration costs of the units that comprise Criminal Policy Group.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |