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Prisoners (Literacy and Numeracy)
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners discharged from their sentence were at level 1 or below for literacy and numeracy skills in each year since 1998 to the latest available date. [69300]
Hilary Benn: The figures published by the Prison Service are as follows:
| Percentage discharged at level 1 or below for | ||
|---|---|---|
| Numeracy | Literacy | |
| 2000–01 | 67.6 | 76.5 |
| 2001–02 | 65.7 | 77.6 |
No comparable data were collected before 2000–01. From 2000–01, delivery targets for literacy and numeracy in prisons have been for the number of basic skills qualifications achieved annually by prisoners. In 2000–01, prisoners achieved 12,500 basic skills qualifications at level 2, rising to nearly 16,000 in 2001–02. Targets for this year and next have been widened to cover the achievement of basic skills qualifications at all levels. This will help establishments to be more responsive to the range of prisoners' basic skills needs.
The Government expects prisoners to achieve 28,800 basic skills qualifications in 2002–03 rising to 32,000 in 2003–04. By helping to equip prisoners with the skills they need to resettle effectively back into the community on release, these achievements will contribute to reduced rates of re-offending and to making communities safer.
Investigatory Branch CIB 3
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of breaches of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 by the investigatory branch CIB 3 have been received in the last four years. [69331]
Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the Metropolitan Police Service complaints and discipline system indicates that there have been six allegations of breaches of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 by officers from the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Metropolitan Police Service's Directorate of Professional Standards (formerly CIB3) in the last four years.
Police Standards
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the functions and compatibility of the Standards Unit and HMIC. [61180]
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Mr. Denham [holding answer 13 June 2002]: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and the Standards Unit have separate and complementary roles. They work together to identify where forces and basic command unit's (BCUs) need support to improve their performance. HMIC will continue to report on performance across the whole service, alerting the Police Standards Unit (PSUs) where it believes its support is needed to improve performance: PSU by contrast will focus on particular areas where BCUs and forces need help to improve performance.
In doing this, PSU will draw on advice from HMIC, monthly crime data by BCU and the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) (and other sources where available). Its early work includes developing analysis and assessment frameworks to make best use of police performance data and quality assurance processes to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this data.
The Standards Unit will begin a programme of targeting support for forces and BCUs in the autumn. It will also provide funding to help the best BCUs to innovate and develop best practice.
Police Recruitment
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to encourage former officers to rejoin the police service; and
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if applications from such people will be treated in the same way as those from (a) new recruits and (b) officers seeking a transfer from another force. [45874]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The Home Office issues guidelines on recruitment which do not distinguish between new applicants and those seeking to rejoin the police service. Once appointed, depending on individual circumstances, officers rejoining may not be required to complete the full period of probation or to undertake the initial training programme.
The Home Office does not issue guidance to forces about applications from transferees.
The range of measures we have taken to improve recruitment and retention generally, and the reform we are implementing may encourage former offices to consider rejoining.
Crime Reduction Fund
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each initiative in each year since the start of the Crime Reduction Fund, indicating (a) the amount budgeted for each initiative and in total in each year to date and (b) the total expended for each initiative and in total in each year of the initiative to date; and if he will make a statement. [37672]
Mr. Denham: The information, covering project grant, evaluation and running costs, is as follows:
| 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budgeted provision(37) | Actual expenditure | Budgeted provision(37) | Actual expenditure | Budgeted provision(37),(38) | |
| Reducing burglary | 13,800 | 2,067 | 19,830 | 9,137 | 20,185 |
| Locks for the over-60s | 0 | 0 | 5,150 | 927 | 5,530 |
| Summer schemes | 0 | 0 | 1,500 | 1,890 | 2,058 |
| Prostitution—what works | 0 | 0 | 500 | 42 | 1,049 |
| Targeted policing | 6,000 | 509 | 12,450 | 9,696 | 21,880 |
| 'On Track'(39) | 500 | 169 | 12,500 | 4,943 | 2,819 |
| Innovation fund(40) | 0 | 0 | 9,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle crime publicity | 0 | 0 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 0 |
| Treatment of offenders | 5,300 | 2,298 | 8,000 | 7,732 | 7,411 |
| Drug arrest referrals | 2,000 | 306 | 9,000 | 8,941 | 10,874 |
| Schools intervention | 4,000 | 205 | 6,000 | 6,832 | 5,438 |
| Violence against women | 0 | 90 | 5,000 | 2,007 | 10,880 |
| Vehicle crime | 0 | 0 | 4,000 | 505 | 3,883 |
| Youth inclusion | 0 | 0 | 2,750 | 2,750 | 5,870 |
| Sentencing practices | 675 | 332 | 575 | 866 | 4,565 |
| Neighbourhood wardens | 0 | 0 | 1,500 | 922 | 4,047 |
| Design against crime | 500 | 589 | 1,500 | 551 | 1,138 |
| Arson control forum | 0 | 0 | 165 | 118 | 0 |
| Offenders index | 75 | 75 | 75 | 266 | 0 |
| Suzy Lamplugh Trust | 0 | 0 | 205 | 205 | 295 |
| Rape Crisis Federation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 838 |
| CCTV initiative(41) | 20,000 | 5 | 60,000 | 23,460 | 150,841 |
| Total(42) | 52,850 | 6,645 | 167,700 | 89,790 | 259,601 |
(37) The voted provision for 1999–2000 and 2000–01—as published in the Home Office annual report for 2000—was £60 million and £160 million respectively. The budgeted provision figures for these years in the table above differ from those in that report because they reflect updated profiles of planned expenditure. The figures for 200–102 take into account the effects of the SR 2000 Settlement.
(38) Shows the amounts required to roll out the remaining projects under these initiatives. Some of this expenditure will be incurred in 2002–03.
(39) Balance of funding transferred to DfEE for completion of programme.
(40) Funding reallocated to other projects.
(41) Provision comes from the Capital Modernisation Fund. Includes £4.6 million for CCTV in police vehicles.
(42) The total figure excludes central and regional programme support costs, which are not allocated to particular initiatives.
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Heathrow (Security)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning thefts and robberies at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement. [46203]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 25 March 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis meet regularly to discuss issues relevant at the time, including the Metropolitan police's response to high profile incidents. The Government are considering what further measures are necessary to improve airport security.
Operation Rose
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with respect to Operation Rose in Northumbria, how many individuals were (a) suspected of child abuse and (b) arrested in connection with charges of child abuse; of the people arrested, how many were subsequently released; how many of the suspects were charged; of the people charged, how many people had the charges against them dropped before going to court; how many individuals were taken to court who pleaded not guilty to the allegations made against them; how many people were taken to court who pleaded guilty to the allegations made against them; how many cases were discontinued and what were the reasons for discontinuance; how many complaints were received and how many suspects and complainants were identified; of the cases sent to the CPS, how many were (i) accepted, (ii) referred for further information and (iii) rejected; what the total cost associated with Operation Rose was, including direct costs of salaries and expenses of officers involved; what defence costs were awarded against the Crown; and who or which organisation has reviewed the way in which Operation Rose was conducted. [49833]
Mr. Denham: 197 individuals were regarded by the police as possible suspects in the course of Operation Rose, of whom 60 were arrested in connection with charges of child abuse. 28 of these 60 were subsequently released and 32 charged. A further 26 cases were sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for review, but no charges were laid in any of these cases. The CPS reviewed each case before charges were brought, with the result that no case in which charges had been brought was discontinued. 31 of those charged pleaded not guilty to the allegations made against them, and one pleaded guilty. Five of these 31 were convicted. In total 530 complaints were received in the course of the operation; all complainants were identified.
The total cost associated with Operation Rose, including direct costs of salaries and expenses of officers involved, amounted to £5 million. No defence costs were awarded against the Crown—costs were awarded out of central funds. All the agencies involved in Operation Rose—police, CPS, social services and health—have since reviewed the processes involved in the investigation.
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