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Jury Trial

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on trial by jury; and if he will make a statement. [32367]

Mr. Keith Bradley: The Government are committed to jury trial for those cases that warrant it. Sir Robin Auld's review of the criminal courts, the report of which was published last October, made a number of recommendations with major implications for trial by jury. The Government are considering the report and will announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper in the spring.

Drug Awareness Programmes

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution he plans that coroners' courts will make to drug awareness programmes. [32369]

Beverley Hughes: Data from inquest cases can assist in providing a firm baseline for measuring the effectiveness of drug prevention strategies. The Government action plan to prevent drug-related deaths, announced last November, undertook to increase information from coroners' reports and to provide best practice guidance and training to coroners by March 2003.

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Media reporting of inquests into drug-related deaths can bring home to the public the dangers involved in misusing drugs. At least one coroner has sought to encourage senior school children to attend such inquest hearings.

Extradition

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with United States officials about the potential extradition of terrorist suspects to the USA. [33609]

Mr. Blunkett [holding answer 5 February 2002]: I discussed extradition in general terms at meetings with Mr. John Ashcroft, the United States Attorney-General, on 12 December 2001; and Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Chair of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives on 17 January 2002.

The United States is an important extradition partner and officials routinely have to discuss individual cases with their authorities, as the need arises. We also keep our extradition relations with them under general review.

Youth Referrals

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged under 16 years have been referred to local authority social services departments by criminal courts over the last five years in (a) England and Wales and (b) Devon. [34499]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 8 February 2002]: The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not contain the information requested.

Volunteering

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage people to take part in volunteering activity. [34562]

Angela Eagle: The Government have set themselves a target of making 1 million more people active in their communities by 2004. The active community unit has made significant investment in projects and initiatives aimed at encouraging people to take part in voluntary activity and making it easier for them to do so. Timebank, the Community Channel, Do-It and other initiatives have been established in partnership with media organisations. We are investing £19 million in the experience corps. Mentoring projects have been established with funding announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in January 2001.

English Language

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those known to have settled in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years is fluent in the English language. [34674]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 8 February 2002]: There are no recent, reliable figures about the number of people who have settled in the United Kingdom within the last 10 years who are fluent in English. We do not routinely ask people applying for settlement about their linguistic ability.

12 Feb 2002 : Column 298W

In 2002, some 125,090 people were accepted for settlement. Some of them will have English as their first language and others will have developed a degree of fluency by virtue of the time they have spent here before becoming eligible for settlement.

Racial Attacks

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he collates on the ethnic origin of the (a) perpetrators and (b) victims of racially motivated attacks; and if he will make a statement. [34678]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 8 February 2002]: The Home Office collects information on the ethnic origin of victims and perpetrators through the British Crime Survey. The most recent findings relating to racially motivated crimes were published in October 2001 in Home Office Research Study Number 223, 'Crime, Policing and Justice: the experience of ethnic minorities'.

A new statistical return covering the offence group, age, gender and ethnic appearance of victims of racist crimes was introduced from 1 April 2001 in police forces. The first returns are expected at the end of this financial year and will be published by the Home Office in its annual publication, 'Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System'.

Sentencing

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 666W, to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Ms Munn) how many persons (a) under and (b) over 18 participated in the on-line consultation on the Fairer Sentencing website; how many were students; and what evidence he has of the representative nature of those participants. [34779]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 8 February 2002]: As indicated in the Introduction to the overview of the responses to consultation on the Halliday report that I announced on 4 February, over 1,200 attempts were made at the quiz on the Fairer Sentencing website, and about 100 messages posted on the debate forum. In addition, over 120 e-mails have been received, some of which have come through that website. Those who participated in this way were not asked to give any personal information though a very small number did so. Access to the on-line debating facility was available to all with access to the Internet through this website. Its availability was publicised widely and was designed to enable a wider section of the public to contribute to the debate. The consultation was not intended to be a scientifically based opinion survey but a means of extending the consultation more widely than the usual route of contact with criminal justice system professionals and known interest groups. The total number of written correspondence received in response to the public consultation exercise on the Halliday report was 185, which includes correspondence from those connected with the Criminal Justice System and members of the public.

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Coroners Duties (Deaths Overseas)

Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of local coroners relating to UK nationals who die abroad. [32372]

Beverley Hughes: Coroners in England and Wales must hold an inquest into a death overseas if the body is brought into their jurisdiction, the death reported, and the circumstances are those in which an inquest would be required if the death had occurred here.

Police Retention

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officers (a) retired from, (b) left for other reasons from and (c) was

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recruited to each police force in each year since 1997. [34780]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 8 February 2002]: The information provided relates to financial year data and is given in the table.

Latest figures as at 30 September 2001, showed that 6,160 officers left the service in the previous 12 months. This represents 4.9 per cent. of the total police strength of the 43 forces in England and Wales. Within this total, 3,931 officers retired and the remainder left for other reasons including resignations, transfers to forces outside England and Wales, dismissals and deaths.

During the 12 months to 30 September 2001, 9,020 officers were recruited, this is 3,694 or 69 per cent. more than the previous year and the most since 1979. This represents 7.2 per cent. of the total strength. Police officer retirements, other wastage and recruitment 1997 to 2001

Police officer retirements(40): number and proportion of total strength

April 1997-March 1998April 1998-March 1999April 1999-March 2000April 2000-March 2001
Police forceNumber PercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentage
Avon and Somerset1244.2802.71043.51093.6
Bedfordshire464.3494.7393.8313.0
Cambridgeshire342.6463.6373.0282.2
Cheshire824.0612.9673.3623.1
City of London384.6273.5294.0263.7
Cleveland251.7533.7533.8654.6
Cumbria453.9363.2504.6413.9
Derbyshire774.3502.8362.0372.0
Devon and Cornwall1113.7963.31123.91083.7
Dorset886.7453.5493.8544.0
Durham513.4322.0322.1352.2
Dyfed Powys252.5201.9313.0302.8
Essex1003.4963.3993.5752.6
Gloucestershire565.1514.6363.2353.0
Greater Manchester3294.72824.12353.52393.5
Gwent322.6282.2493.9433.4
Hampshire702.0671.91293.81073.1
Hertfordshire512.9452.6673.8482.5
Humberside834.1643.2763.9743.9
Kent892.7792.51023.21033.1
Lancashire1113.4752.3782.51053.2
Leicestershire593.0472.4462.3562.8
Lincolnshire332.8494.3585.2453.7
Merseyide1513.61122.71162.81243.0
Metropolitan police9833.81,0654.18153.26862.8
Norfolk664.6473.4453.3493.5
North Wales463.3624.5493.5604.2
North Yorkshire382.8292.2514.0554.2
Northamptonshire443.8161.4252.2262.2
Northumbria1514.01153.01032.7912.4
Nottinghamshire924.0823.7673.0753.3
South Wales1364.61394.71053.61314.2
South Yorkshire922.91003.21003.21043.3
Staffordshire1265.5693.15124502.3
Suffolk514.3262.2373.2524.6
Surrey734.5503.0543.0523.7
Sussex1284.31274.51073.81063.7
Thames Valley1233.3922.51092.9912.5
Warwickshire454.9424.6252.8333.6
West Mercia693.4713.5794.21145.8
West Midlands2944.12032.81842.61582.1
West Yorkshire1633.21422.91533.21583.3
Wiltshire484.2453.9403.6332.9
Total for all 43 forces4,6783.74,1123.33,9293.23,8043.1
Total including secondments4,6783.74,1123.33,9293.23,8043.0

(40) Retirements include ordinary and medical retirements


Other police officer wastage: number and proportion of total strength

April 1997-March 1998April 1998-March 1999April 1999-March 2000April 2000-March 2001
Police forceNumber PercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentage
Avon and Somerset240.8240.8421.4511.7
Bedfordshire211.9141.3191.8514.0
Cambridgeshire342.6201.6171.4423.2
Cheshire201.0110.5231.1231.1
City of London354.2314.0212.9294.1
Cleveland161.1251.860.4161.1
Cumbria110.9242.1161.5282.7
Derbyshire160.990.5110.6110.6
Devon and Cornwall180.6150.5220.8220.7
Dorset201.5191.5262.0151.1
Durham281.8100.6261.7181.1
Dyfed Powys70.750.580.8191.8
Essex571.9260.9702.5662.3
Gloucestershire90.890.8171.5121.0
Greater Manchester510.7640.9610.9650.9
Gwent181.5221.8191.5151.2
Hampshire872.5702.0611.8802.3
Hertfordshire442.5462.7482.7693.6
Humberside291.4301.5191.0613.2
Kent501.5702.2541.7531.6
Lancashire240.7240.7331.0341.0
Leicestershire341.7472.4231.2160.8
Lincolnshire413.4121.190.8151.2
Merseyide270.6240.6290.7330.8
Metropolitan police5782.26602.56622.64121.7
Norfolk221.5171.2120.9130.9
North Wales90.6100.770.5151.0
North Yorkshire141.0151.1151.270.5
Northamptonshire131.1443.9131.2282.4
Northumbria531.4451.2481.3451.2
Nottinghamshire210.9281.3251.1210.9
South Wales170.6270.9260.9301.0
South Yorkshire321.0441.4371.2341.1
Staffordshire351.5271.2301.4251.2
Suffolk131.1282.4191.7242.1
Surrey462.9321.9261.5401.9
Sussex531.8742.6782.8802.8
Thames Valley651.7441.2802.1812.2
Warwickshire212.3131.4131.4212.3
West Mercia301.5291.4231.2422.2
West Midlands1522.11381.91432.01612.2
West Yorkshire691.3561.1561.2651.3
Wiltshire151.3100.9262.3322.9
Total for all 43 forces1,9791.61,9921.62,0191.72,0101.6
Total including secondments1,9791.61,9921.62,0191.62,0101.6

(41) Retirements include ordinary and medical retirements


12 Feb 2002 : Column 301W

Total police officer wastage: number and proportion of total strength

April 1997-March 1998April 1998-March 1999April 1999-March 2000April 2000-March 2001
Police forceNumber PercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentage
Avon and Somerset1485.01043.51465.01605.3
Bedfordshire676.2636.1585.6727.0
Cambridgeshire685.3665.2544.4705.4
Cheshire1025.0723.5904.5854.2
City of London738.8587.5506.8557.8
Cleveland412.8785.5594.2815.8
Cumbria564.8605.3666.1696.6
Derbyshire935.2593.4472.6482.6
Devon and Cornwall1294.41113.81344.71304.4
Dorset1088.2645.0755.7695.1
Durham795.2422.7583.7533.3
Dyfed Powys323.2252.4393.8494.6
Essex1575.41224.21696.01414.9
Gloucestershire655.9605.4534.8474.0
Greater Manchester3805.53465.12964.43044.4
Gwent504.1504.0685.4584.6
Hampshire1574.51373.91905.61875.4
Hertfordshire955.5915.31156.51176.1
Humberside1125.5944.8954.91357.0
Kent1394.31494.71564.91564.7
Lancashire1354.1993.11113.51394.3
Leicestershire934.7944.7693.5723.5
Lincolnshire746.2615.4676.0605.0
Merseyide1784.23.63.21453.51573.8
Metropolitan police1,5616.01,7256.61,4775.81,0984.4
Norfolk886.2644.6574.1624.4
North Wales553.9725.2564.0755.2
North Yorkshire523.8443.3665.1624.7
Northamptonshire574.9605.3383.4544.7
Northumbria2045.41604.21514.01363.5
Nottinghamshire1134.91104.9924.2964.2
South Wales1535.11665.61314.51615.1
South Yorkshire1243.91444.51374.31384.3
Staffordshire1617.0964.3813.7753.5
Suffolk645.4544.5564.9766.7
Surrey1197.4824.9804.5924.5
Sussex1816.02017.11856.61866.5
Thames Valley1885.01363.61895.11724.6
Warwickshire667.1556.1384.2545.8
West Mercia994.91004.91025.41568.0
West Midlands4466.23414.73274.53194.3
West Yorkshire2324.51984.02094.32234.6
Wiltshire635.4554.8665.9655.8
Total for all 43 forces6,6575.36,1044.95,9484.95,8144.7
Total including secondments6,6575.26,1044.85,9484.85,8144.6

(42) Retirements include ordinary and medical retirements


12 Feb 2002 : Column 303W

Police officer recruitment: number and proportion of total strength

April 1997-March 1998April 1998-March 1999April 1999-March 2000April 2000-March 2001
Police forceNumber PercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentage
Avon and Somerset1384.61424.71043.51846.1
Bedfordshire494.5363.5373.6827.9
Cambridgeshire655.0463.6231.913410.3
Cheshire944.61125.4361.81085.4
City of London344.1182.300.0294.1
Cleveland714.800.0684.8715.0
Cumbria796.8343.0232.1313.0
Derbyshire663.7523.0794.41035.7
Devon and Cornwall1796.0572.0742.61725.9
Dorset1299.8443.4876.71007.4
Durham1238.11066.8513.3835.2
Dyfed Powys424.2504.9545.2585.5
Essex1244.2963.3933.31816.2
Gloucestershire343.1645.8595.3897.6
Greater Manchester4376.32173.22864.23895.6
Gwent393.2614.9826.5634.9
Hampshire2015.81173.41524441915.6
Hertfordshire784.5794.61679.51105.7
Humberside884.4482.4914.7985.1
Kent1193.71203.71745.42698.1
Lancashire1354.1551.7993.11645.0
Leicestershire1186.0884.4673.41085.3
Lincolnshire615.160.5343.01199.9
Merseyide1814.32345.6411.91784.4
Metropolitan police1,2004.61,6296.29943.91,2765.1
Norfolk845.9282.9433.1906.3
North Wales483.4594.2795.61198.2
North Yorkshire654.8171.3100.8665.1
Northamptonshire574.9292.5191.7938.0
Northumbria2757.32336.11213.22265.9
Nottinghamshire1114.8221.91044.71345.9
South Wales1685.61836.11244.22869.1
South Yorkshire1454.61304.11284.01835.7
Staffordshire23910.4311.4221.0622.9
Suffolk766.4574.8171.5655.7
Surrey1167.21388.318310.324011.6
Sussex1354.51093.81013.62067.2
Thames Valley2767.31534.11905.12376.4
Warwickshire677.3505.5596.6859.2
West Mercia793.91095.4150.8924.7
West Midlands4446.24666.42553.55537.4
West Yorkshire2033.9170.3611.32124.4
Wiltshire716.1494.3292.6756.7
Total for all 43 forces6,5435.25,3914.44,5353.77,4146.0
Total including secondments6,5435.25,3914.34,5353.77,4145.9

(43) Retirements include ordinary and medical retirements


12 Feb 2002 : Column 305W


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