House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 15 Jul 2002 (pt 25)

Antisocial Behaviour

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measurements are used to assess antisocial behaviour; and what targets are given for the police to tackle antisocial behaviour. [66891]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 10 July 2002]: Antisocial behaviour is assessed using information from the British crime survey which provides a measure of the public's perception of the level of disorder and antisocial behaviour in their area. The police's contribution to the overall target of reducing antisocial behaviour is measured using Best Value Performance Indicator 122, feelings of public safety. This is a subset of the British crime survey data broken down by police force area.

Criminal Records Bureau

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent communications he has had with voluntary organisations and non-governmental bodies with regard to the cost of Criminal Records Bureau disclosure information checks for volunteers; and if he will make a statement. [69130]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 18 April 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) on 10 July 2002, Official Report, column 1079W.

HIV/AIDS

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is towards granting leave to remain on compassionate grounds to people who are receiving NHS treatment for HIV or AIDS. [69017]

Beverley Hughes: The United Kingdom is a signatory to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), now given effect in domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998. Policy for cases involving HIV/AIDS or other serious medical conditions was recently reviewed to ensure compatibility with the Human Rights Act and recent developments in ECHR case law; to ensure a consistent approach in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) towards cases involving consideration of medical issues; and to take account of developments in drug therapy used to treat HIV/AIDS.

The new policy came into effect for applications made on or after 19 December 2000, and applies to all cases where an applicant is seeking to stay in the United Kingdom because they are suffering from a serious medical condition. Under this policy the United Kingdom's obligations under Article 3 of the ECHR will be engaged where the following requirements are satisfied:

(i) the United Kingdom can be regarded as having assumed responsibility for a person's care; and
(ii) there is credible medical evidence that return, due to a complete absence of medical treatment in the country concerned, would significantly reduce the applicant's life expectancy; and
(iii) subject them to acute physical and mental suffering.

All applications to stay on medical grounds are given careful individual consideration of their particular circumstances.

15 Jul 2002 : Column 98W

Crime (Wandsworth)

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) burglaries, (b) violent crimes, (c) drug offences and (d) thefts of vehicles were recorded by the Wandsworth police division of the Metropolitan police in each of the last five years; and what the total numbers of crimes committed in the division were in those years. [68443]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Numbers of recorded crimes for some offences and groups of offences have been collected centrally by police basic command unit since 1 April 1999, and the data for the years ending March 2000 and 2001 have been published in Home Office Statistical Bulletins 12–00 and 12–01.

The available details for the Wandsworth Basic Command Unit (BCU) are as follows:

Number of recorded crimes

Offence/offence group Year ending March 2000 Year ending March 2001

Domestic burglary 3,379 2,716

Violent crime⁽²⁴⁾ 6,798 6,580

Theft of vehicle 1,835 1,955

Offence/offence group	Year ending March 2000	Year ending March 2001
Domestic burglary	3,379	2,716
Violent crime⁽²⁴⁾	6,798	6,580
Theft of vehicle	1,835	1,955

⁽²⁴⁾ Violent crime consists of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.

The figures for the year ending March 2002 are due to be published on 12 July 2002.

Passports

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the reasons underlying his decision to abolish passport exit controls in 1997. [68083]

Beverley Hughes: A detailed study of the residual embarkation control was undertaken against the background of the decision by the Government in 1994, to abolish checks on passengers travelling from sea ports and small airports to continental destinations.

The residual embarkation control did not contribute to the overall effectiveness of the immigration control but was resource intensive. In 1997, 8 per cent. of the Immigration Service's operational duties were deployed to the operation of the embarkation control. After a lengthy period of consultation with interested parties, the Government decided in March 1998 to replace the routine presence of immigration officers with a new arrangement where the control could be set up at short notice in response to specific operational need. This was combined with an increased use of closed circuit television technology.

The reconfiguration of the embarkation control means that the Immigration Service can now use its resources more flexibly, concentrating on crucial areas such as clandestine entry, removals and secure border control.

UK Airwave Project

Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the UK Airwave Project, stating (a) its agreed cost, (b) how cost overruns will be dealt with and (c) how many suppliers will be able to supply operating equipment to the programme over its lifetime. [68067]

15 Jul 2002 : Column 99W

Mr. Denham: The projected cost of the Airwave framework arrangement over the next 19 years is £2.9 billion, at 1999 prices.

Airwave is a private finance initiative (PFI), hence the main contractor, O2, will be required to compensate police authorities for delays or failures on their part that undermine the service or cause additional expense to forces. The contract is structured such that additional costs will only fall to the public sector if changes are made to the agreed specification within the framework arrangement at the request of the contracting authority, the Police Information Technology Organisation.

It is very difficult to estimate how many suppliers of the relevant equipment there are likely to be over the lifetime of Airwave. In such a market, and with a contract of this length, it is important to maintain an open and competitive supply of equipment, which offers the opportunity to realise future technological advances.

Operation Lancet

Mr. Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the Independent Review of Operation Lancet. [70608]

Mr. Denham: I am publishing today Operation Lancet—A Case Study Review report. Copies are available in the Library.

15 Jul 2002 : Column 100W

The review contains helpful recommendations about good practice in the investigation of police misconduct and lessons which can be applied in the development of the new police complaints system. We will ensure that the recommendations are taken forward as part of that work.

I am very grateful to William Taylor and the review team for completing up the review following the sad death of its initial leader, Sir John Hoddinott.

Emergency Calls

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of 999 calls was not answered within 10 seconds in each police force in each year from 1990–91 to 2001–02, ranked from best to worst performance for the most recent year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [66887]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 8 July 2002]: The information requested is available from 1993 for all police force areas in England and Wales. A complete set of 2001–02 data is not yet complete, but it will be published in Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's annual report in October, a copy of which is placed in the Library. The information which is available is set out in the table. City of London calls are handled by the Metropolitan police. Police authorities set their own target times for responses to 999 calls and these are given in the table.

999 calls, 1993 to 2000–01

1993 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97

Force Target time (seconds) Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time Target time (seconds) Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time Target time (seconds) Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time Target time (seconds) Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time

England and Wales 13 83 13 87 12 87 12 84

Durham 10 95 10 95 10 98 10 97

West Midlands 15 96 15 97 15 95 15 97

Humberside 15 68 15 80 15 80 15 77

Gloucestershire 10 77 15 84 15 86 15 93

Derbyshire 30 — 15 — 15 88 15 90

Suffolk 10 97 10 99 10 89 10 88

Gwent 6 98 6 99 6 99 6 99

West Mercia 10 95 10 93 10 89 10 92

Cumbria 15 99 15 99 10 99 10 99

Essex 10 88 10 85 10 90 10 91

North Wales 10 86 10 88 10 84 10 82

Norfolk 10 86 10 84 10 86 10 73

Warwickshire 15 89 15 92 15 90 15 75

Dyfed-Powys 10 95 10 95 10 96 10 —

Nottinghamshire 20 82 20 87 20 92 15 90

Leicestershire 15 84 15 80 15 69 15 76

Sussex 10 80 10 90 10 91 10 93

Avon and Somerset 10 86 10 88 10 91 10 86

South Yorkshire 30 82 30 84 20 80 20 78

Greater Manchester 15 94 15 96 15 94 15 78

Northamptonshire 10 — 10 93 10 95 10 97

Cambridgeshire 12 94 12 74 12 80 12 82

Merseyside 6 78 6 77 6 57 10 70

Wiltshire 15 93 15 92 15 93 15 88

Thames Valley — — 10 86 10 88 10 92

West Yorkshire 15 77 15 79 15 78 15 77

Lancashire 10 91 10 87 10 93 10 96

Surrey 15 85 15 95 15 87 15 93

Cheshire 15 — 15 91 15 94 15 92

South Wales 10 87 10 81 10 80 10 84

North Yorkshire 5 66 5 78 5 78 5 82

Bedfordshire 10 84 10 86 15 86 15 85

Kent 10 92 10 95 10 89 10 92

Hertfordshire 20 96 20 95 20 92 10 76

Devon and Cornwall 10 89 10 89 10 84 10 93

Metropolitan police 15 86 15 81 15 89 15 90

Staffordshire 15 92 15 93 15 93 15 92

Dorset 10 84 10 85 10 82 10 77

Northumbria 15 85 15 91 15 94 15 93

Cleveland 20 97 20 98 15 96 10 91

Hampshire 10 85 10 88 10 86 10 —

City of London ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾—

Lincolnshire 10 92 10 93 10 95 10 95

	1993	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Force	Target time (seconds)	Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time	Target time (seconds)	Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time	Target time (seconds)	Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time	Target time (seconds)	Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time
England and Wales	13	83	13	87	12	87	12	84
Durham	10	95	10	95	10	98	10	97
West Midlands	15	96	15	97	15	95	15	97
Humberside	15	68	15	80	15	80	15	77
Gloucestershire	10	77	15	84	15	86	15	93
Derbyshire	30	—	15	—	15	88	15	90
Suffolk	10	97	10	99	10	89	10	88
Gwent	6	98	6	99	6	99	6	99
West Mercia	10	95	10	93	10	89	10	92
Cumbria	15	99	15	99	10	99	10	99
Essex	10	88	10	85	10	90	10	91
North Wales	10	86	10	88	10	84	10	82
Norfolk	10	86	10	84	10	86	10	73
Warwickshire	15	89	15	92	15	90	15	75
Dyfed-Powys	10	95	10	95	10	96	10	—
Nottinghamshire	20	82	20	87	20	92	15	90
Leicestershire	15	84	15	80	15	69	15	76
Sussex	10	80	10	90	10	91	10	93
Avon and Somerset	10	86	10	88	10	91	10	86
South Yorkshire	30	82	30	84	20	80	20	78
Greater Manchester	15	94	15	96	15	94	15	78
Northamptonshire	10	—	10	93	10	95	10	97
Cambridgeshire	12	94	12	74	12	80	12	82
Merseyside	6	78	6	77	6	57	10	70
Wiltshire	15	93	15	92	15	93	15	88
Thames Valley	—	—	10	86	10	88	10	92
West Yorkshire	15	77	15	79	15	78	15	77
Lancashire	10	91	10	87	10	93	10	96
Surrey	15	85	15	95	15	87	15	93
Cheshire	15	—	15	91	15	94	15	92
South Wales	10	87	10	81	10	80	10	84
North Yorkshire	5	66	5	78	5	78	5	82
Bedfordshire	10	84	10	86	15	86	15	85
Kent	10	92	10	95	10	89	10	92
Hertfordshire	20	96	20	95	20	92	10	76
Devon and Cornwall	10	89	10	89	10	84	10	93
Metropolitan police	15	86	15	81	15	89	15	90
Staffordshire	15	92	15	93	15	93	15	92
Dorset	10	84	10	85	10	82	10	77

Northumbria	15	85	15	91	15	94	15	93
Cleveland	20	97	20	98	15	96	10	91
Hampshire	10	85	10	88	10	86	10	—
City of London	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—
Lincolnshire	10	92	10	93	10	95	10	95

⁽²⁵⁾ Data collected by the Metropolitan Police Service

15 Jul 2002 : Column 101W

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01

Force Target time (seconds) Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time Target time (seconds) Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time Target time (seconds) Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time Target time (seconds) Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time

England and Wales 12 89 11 89 12 84 11 87

Durham 10 97 10 98 10 98 10 99

West Midlands 15 98 15 98 15 97 15 97

Humberside 15 86 15 96 15 94 15 96

Gloucestershire 12 97 12 94 12 95 12 95

Derbyshire 15 94 10 86 10 92 10 94

Suffolk 10 96 10 98 10 95 10 94

Gwent 6 99 6 98 6 93 6 93

West Mercia 10 92 10 94 10 93 10 92

Cumbria 10 98 10 99 10 98 10 92

Essex 10 79 10 78 15 86 15 92

North Wales 10 86 10 89 10 88 10 92

Norfolk 10 70 10 87 10 93 10 91

Warwickshire 15 77 15 82 15 91 15 91

Dyfed-Powys 8 92 8 80 8 92 8 91

Nottinghamshire 15 88 15 89 15 90 15 90

Leicestershire 15 86 15 92 15 90 15 90

Sussex 10 89 10 86 10 81 10 90

Avon and Somerset 10 86 10 92 10 90 10 90

South Yorkshire 15 77 15 86 15 88 15 90

Greater Manchester 15 81 15 86 15 85 15 90

Northamptonshire 10 97 10 98 10 95 10 89

Cambridgeshire 12 82 12 81 12 90 12 89

Merseyside 10 87 10 90 10 90 10 89

Wiltshire 15 89 15 96 15 96 10 88

Thames Valley 10 92 10 92 10 89 10 88

West Yorkshire 15 89 15 90 15 86 15 86

Lancashire 10 95 10 93 10 92 10 86

Surrey 15 95 15 94 15 86 15 86

Cheshire 14 90 14 89 15 84 15 86

South Wales 10 81 10 80 10 79 10 86

North Yorkshire 5 87 5 88 5 86 5 85

Bedfordshire 15 79 15 77 15 77 15 85

Kent 10 92 10 93 10 95 10 85

Hertfordshire 10 84 10 72 10 83 10 84

Devon and Cornwall 10 93 10 93 10 86 10 84

Metropolitan police 15 91 15 87 15 71 15 84

Staffordshire 15 89 15 87 15 79 10 83

Dorset 10 76 10 78 10 81 10 80

Northumbria 15 89 10 86 10 80 10 79

Cleveland 10 95 10 95 10 92 10 79

Hampshire 10 83 10 83 10 80 10 74

City of London ⁽²⁶⁾— ⁽²⁶⁾— ⁽²⁶⁾— ⁽²⁶⁾— ⁽²⁶⁾— ⁽²⁶⁾— ⁽²⁶⁾— ⁽²⁶⁾—

Lincolnshire 10 95 10 95 10 92 10 n/a

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Force	Target time (seconds)	Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time	Target time (seconds)	Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time	Target time (seconds)	Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time	Target time (seconds)	Percentage of 999 calls answered within target time
England and Wales	12	89	11	89	12	84	11	87
Durham	10	97	10	98	10	98	10	99
West Midlands	15	98	15	98	15	97	15	97
Humberside	15	86	15	96	15	94	15	96
Gloucestershire	12	97	12	94	12	95	12	95
Derbyshire	15	94	10	86	10	92	10	94
Suffolk	10	96	10	98	10	95	10	94
Gwent	6	99	6	98	6	93	6	93
West Mercia	10	92	10	94	10	93	10	92
Cumbria	10	98	10	99	10	98	10	92
Essex	10	79	10	78	15	86	15	92
North Wales	10	86	10	89	10	88	10	92
Norfolk	10	70	10	87	10	93	10	91
Warwickshire	15	77	15	82	15	91	15	91
Dyfed-Powys	8	92	8	80	8	92	8	91
Nottinghamshire	15	88	15	89	15	90	15	90
Leicestershire	15	86	15	92	15	90	15	90
Sussex	10	89	10	86	10	81	10	90
Avon and Somerset	10	86	10	92	10	90	10	90
South Yorkshire	15	77	15	86	15	88	15	90
Greater Manchester	15	81	15	86	15	85	15	90
Northamptonshire	10	97	10	98	10	95	10	89
Cambridgeshire	12	82	12	81	12	90	12	89
Merseyside	10	87	10	90	10	90	10	89
Wiltshire	15	89	15	96	15	96	10	88
Thames Valley	10	92	10	92	10	89	10	88
West Yorkshire	15	89	15	90	15	86	15	86
Lancashire	10	95	10	93	10	92	10	86
Surrey	15	95	15	94	15	86	15	86
Cheshire	14	90	14	89	15	84	15	86
South Wales	10	81	10	80	10	79	10	86
North Yorkshire	5	87	5	88	5	86	5	85
Bedfordshire	15	79	15	77	15	77	15	85
Kent	10	92	10	93	10	95	10	85
Hertfordshire	10	84	10	72	10	83	10	84
Devon and Cornwall	10	93	10	93	10	86	10	84
Metropolitan police	15	91	15	87	15	71	15	84
Staffordshire	15	89	15	87	15	79	10	83
Dorset	10	76	10	78	10	81	10	80
Northumbria	15	89	10	86	10	80	10	79
Cleveland	10	95	10	95	10	92	10	79
Hampshire	10	83	10	83	10	80	10	74
City of London	⁽²⁶⁾—	⁽²⁶⁾—	⁽²⁶⁾—	⁽²⁶⁾—	⁽²⁶⁾—	⁽²⁶⁾—	⁽²⁶⁾—	⁽²⁶⁾—
Lincolnshire	10	95	10	95	10	92	10	n/a

⁽²⁶⁾ Data collected by the Metropolitan Police Service

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