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Offence Statistics
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offences were reported in the Metropolitan police force area between (a) April to November 2000 and (b) April to November 2001; [27644]
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(2) how many street crimes there were in the Metropolitan Police Force area in (a) April to November 2000 and (b) April to November 2001. [27646]
Mr. John Denham [holding answer 15 January 2002]: Home Office recorded crime statistics for the whole years ending March 2001 and 2002 are given in the table. Rather than using the Metropolitan Police's category of "Street Crime", recorded robberies of personal property are given.
| Years ending March | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2002 | |
| Total recorded crime | 994,233 | 1,057,360 |
| Robbery of personal property | 37,023 | 49,446 |
Wheel Clamping
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the regulations in order to improve the clarity of signs relating to the clamping of cars on private roads. [28873]
Mr. John Denham [holding answer 21 January 2002]: Currently there are no regulations governing signs relating to clamping on private roads. However, last year the Government introduced the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The Act specifies the creation of a Security Industry Authority. It is hoped that the authority, which will regulate the industry through licensing, will begin operations in 2003; it will have wheel-clamping as one of its priority areas.
In the meantime, those who believe their vehicles have been unfairly clamped can have cases against wheel clampers heard in civil courts.
Civil Disturbances (West Yorkshire)
Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the costs to West Yorkshire Police of dealing with civil disturbances in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [12532]
Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question of 31 October 2001, tabled by the hon. Member for Pudsey (Reference 12532). [29064]
Mr. John Denham: I apologise for not responding to my hon. Friend more promptly. The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police (Graham Moore QPM) made representations on 24 October 2001 requesting a special grant to assist with the policing costs of the Bradford disturbances in July of last year. I also received a number of representations from hon. Members.
On 30 January I announced that the Home Secretary had approved a special grant of 2.2 million as a contribution to the additional cost of policing the Bradford disturbances. This grant covered 64 per cent. of the additional policing costs incurred by West Yorkshire Police. It was decided to treat all applications for assistance arising out of last year's
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summer riots with equal fairness. Similar special grants for around two thirds of additional policing costs were also paid to the Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Staffordshire forces.
The West Yorkshire Police Authority has also received 35 claims for compensation under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 totalling £7.3 million. I understand that 12 claims totalling £46,419 have been settled and three further claims have been rejected. The largest claims are still under consideration by the Authority. It is open to the police authority to seek further grant support when the final impact on the force is known. Any application would be considered against the criteria for such matters.
Police (Havering)
Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give funding for additional police officers in Havering to meet the demands of its late night entertainment centre. [29911]
Mr. John Denham: We made clear in the White Paper "Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for Reform" that we are concerned about the costs incurred in policing entertainment venues, particularly pubs and clubs. We restated the Government's position on charging in the Government's reply to the Home Affairs Select Committee's report into the Police Reform Bill. We are keen to explore how we might encourage and develop arrangements under which entertainment venues, including pubs, clubs and bars, make a contribution to the policing and public order costs generated by their activities. Complex issues need to be resolved in order to find a way forward.
Excluding the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF), police grant for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for 2002–03 is £1.676 billion.
Under the CFF recruitment initiative, the MPS has already been allocated an additional 2,044 recruits over and above the forces' previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003. The MPS/MPA (Metropolitan Police Authority) received £12 million from the CFF in 2000–01, £43.7 million was paid in 2001–02 and, on present forecasts of recruitment, is expected to qualify for full payment of £65.9 million in 2002–03.
The allocation of available resources to the London Boroughs is a matter for the Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Street Robbery
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries were caused by street robberies in the Metropolitan Police area in 2001; and at what estimated cost to public funds. [31019]
Mr. John Denham: Information is not available centrally in this form, and provision is a matter for the Commissioner for the Metropolis.
Latest published Home Office figures show that, according to current records (which are subject to possible change), the Metropolitan Police recorded seven homicides in 2000–01 where the circumstances involved robbery.
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Police (Hillingdon)
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the operating hours of each police station within the Hillingdon Division of the Metropolitan Police Service in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001. [31362]
Mr. John Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is responsible for the day to day operational management of the force. I am, therefore, sending notice of this question to the Commissioner and to the Metropolitan Police Commander in Hillingdon so that the Commissioner may address the question that you have raised.
Football Matches (Policing)
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow police to charge for policing outside football grounds on match days; and if he will make a statement. [34796]
Mr. John Denham: The Government remains concerned at the costs incurred in policing entertainment venues, including major events such as sporting and outdoor entertainments. We are keen to explore how we might encourage and develop arrangements under which entertainment venues make a contribution to the policing and public order costs generated by their activities. Complex issues need to be resolved in order to find a way forward. As we said in response to the Home Affairs Committee's Report into the Police Reform Bill, as part of the Government's ongoing work in this area, we will consult interested parties about Chapter 13 of Home Office Circular 34/2000, "Home Office guidance on football-related legislation". This chapter deals specifically with charging for policing football.
Police Recruitment
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers have (a) left the profession and (b) been recruited in Coventry in each year since 1997; [36501]
- (2) what the shortfall is in police officer numbers in Coventry; what measures are being taken to increase these numbers; and if he will make a statement. [36500]
Mr. John Denham [holding answer 25 February 2002]: The information in the tables has been provided by the Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police.
This Government is helping West Midlands Police to increase police numbers through the extra recruits being made available through the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF). West Midlands has been allocated 523 CFF recruits over three years to March 2003. The force recruited 222 CFF recruits in 2000–01 and expects to recruit 195 in 2001–02 and a further 106 in 2002–03. By 31 January 2002 West Midlands had 7,577 officers, a record number and 464 more than in March 1997. It is for the Chief Constable to determine the allocation of officers within the force area.
The City of Coventry has three territorial divisions. Table 1 provides information on the budgeted strength of each division and its actual strength. Differences between actual and budgeted strength have a variety of causes. They may arise because patterns of recruitment to and
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wastage from the police service are different or because targets for strength at the end of the financial year reflect planned changes in strength, for example the allocation of officers recruited through the Crime Fighting Fund.
Table 2 shows the numbers of officers who were recruited and posted to Coventry and who left the profession from the Coventry divisions, it also shows the number of officers who left on transfer to another police force.
| Division | Budgeted strength(90) | Actual strength(90),(91) |
|---|---|---|
| M1 Division | 300 | 282 |
| M2 Division | 276 | 264 |
| M3 Division | 287 | 272 |
| TOTAL | 863 | 818 |
(90) Figures are full-time equivalents.
(91) Strength is the position at 31 January.
| Year (12 months Ending 31 March) | Number of officers recruited (including transfers from other forces) | Number leaving profession from Coventry divisions(92) | Number of officers transferring from Coventry to other forces | Total leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 39 | 36 | 1 | 37 |
| 1997–98 | 56 | 26 | 6 | 32 |
| 1998–99 | 39 | 25 | 7 | 32 |
| 1999–2000 | 64 | 39 | 3 | 42 |
| 2000–01 | 67 | 37 | 12 | 49 |
| 2001–02 (to 20/02/02) | 15 | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| Total | 280 | 170 | 33 | 203 |
(92)Retirement, ill health/deceased, not satisfactory, career break, other.
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