You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

5 Feb 2003 : Column 333W—continued

Police Officers (University Fees)

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the conditions under which police officers may obtain

5 Feb 2003 : Column 334W

(a) payment of (i) university fees and (ii) other expenses and (b) the repayment of university-related debts incurred before joining the police service; how many (A) men and (B) women obtained such payments in the last academic year; and what the total cost of such payments was. [94482]

Mr. Denham: Police authorities may nominate police officers for a full-time course of university study. It is for the police authorities to decide whether to reimburse fees and expenses for nominated officers. It would be for police authorities to decide whether to repay any university-related debts incurred by a police officer before joining the force.

The Police Regulations 1995 make provision for the pay and conditions under which "university scholars" serve. These are in most cases the same as those enjoyed by officers on normal duties.

Figures for the number of police officers undertaking such courses of university study and the payments of fees and expenses to them are not maintained centrally.

The Home Office is currently funding the student fees for 144 police officers who enrolled in October 2002 for the first intake of a pilot Foundation Degree in Police Studies provided by the University of Portsmouth. It will also fund the fees of about 100 who will enrol for the second intake in February 2003 and up to 250 who will enrol for further intakes in 2003–04. There is no commitment to provide funding beyond the pilot project.

Police Precept

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the policy of his Department is on the maximum permitted increase in the police precept for each English local authority in 2003–04; what the policy of the Government is on the use of capping powers in respect of the police precept; and if he will make a statement. [92083]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 22 January 2003]: The levels at which police precepts are set in 2003–04 are local decisions for individual police authorities to determine.

Since we introduced the reserve capping powers in the Local Government Act 1999, we have been clear that they should only be used in exceptional circumstances. In making decisions about the use of reserve powers, a major consideration has been evidence of how local taxpayers have been engaged in decisions about council tax increases. Over the next few years we will consider the impact of this policy on those who use and those who pay for local services.

Police Recruitment

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage the recruitment of police officers from all sectors of society. [93473]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 30 January 2003]: We have this month published progress on the recruitment of minority ethnic officers in "Race Equality—The Home Secretary's Employment Targets". Progress is measured against the 10-year employment targets

5 Feb 2003 : Column 335W

published in the Dismantling Barriers document, which sets out the overall increase in representation for each force to be representative of the community it serves. Forces have until 2009 to reach these targets. There is annual monitoring of performance; jointHome Office and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularyreviews of those forces facing the biggest challenge to meet their targets are underway with the objective of agreeing action plans with Chief Constables by 1 April.

The recruitment, retention and progression sub-group of the Lawrence Steering Group, is reviewing performance, identifying and addressing barriers to success with a view to the identification and dissemination of good practice employment policies.

We support the aims of the Gender Agenda, one of which is "to achieve a gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation balance across the rank structure and specialisms consistent with the proportion of women in the economically active population". The National Policing Plan provides that Police Authorities should take account of these aims in their force Human Resource plans.

We are developing national procedures for recruitment which ensure that objective, role related criteria are used at all stages of the process. Information for applicants makes it clear that the police service welcomes applications from all sections of society and offers case studies of minority ethnic, mother returner and part time officers.

The recruitment, retention and progression sub-group of the Lawrence Steering Group, is reviewing performance, identifying and addressing barriers to success with a view to the identification and dissemination of good practice employment policies.

We support the aims of the Gender Agenda, one of which is "to achieve a gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation balance across the rank structure and specialisms consistent with the proportion of women in the economically activepopulation". The National Policing Plan provides that Police Authorities should take account of these aims in their forceHuman Resource plans.

We are developing national procedures for recruitment which ensure that objective, role related criteria are used at all stages of the process. Information for applicants makes it clear that the police service welcomes applications from all sections of society and offers case studies of minority ethnic, mother returner and part time officers.

Police Service (Equal Opportunities)

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to encourage more members of the ethnic minorities to join the police service; and if he will make a statement. [94273]

Mr. Denham: We have this month published progress on the recruitment of minority ethnic officers in "Race Equality-The Home Secretary's Employment Targets". Progress is measured against the 10-year employment targets published in the Dismantling Barriers document, which are intended to ensure that forces are representative of the communities which they serve by

5 Feb 2003 : Column 336W

2009. There is annual monitoring of performance. Joint Home Office and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) reviews of those forces facing the biggest challenge to meet their targets are under way with the objective of agreeing action plans with the Chief Constable by 1 April.

Further impetus is provided by the work of one of the sub-groups of the Lawrence Steering Group, looking at the recruitment, retention and progression of minority ethnic staff. The group is looking at current force performance, identifying and addressing any barriers to success and the identification and dissemination of good practice employment policies.

We are developing national procedures for recruitment which ensure that objective, role related criteria are used at all stages of the process. The associated information makes it clear that the police service welcomes applications from all sections of society and offers case studies of minority ethnic, mother returner and part time officers.

Police Service (Local Accountability)

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition he uses of (a) operational and (b) policy issues in relation to the police service and its accountability to local communities. [94487]

Mr. Denham: Under the Police Act 1996, a police authority is responsible for ensuring an effective and efficient police force for an area. It sets an annual policing plan and a three-year strategy setting out the priorities and targets for the policing of the local area. In doing so, it must consult local people and have regard to the National Policing Plan issued by the Secretary of State. The Chief officer of police is responsible for the direction and control of the force to enforce the law and to deliver the objectives of the local policing and three-year strategy plans. Local policing policy is a matter for both the police authority and the chief officer. Operational direction and control resides with the chief officer of police. The Secretary of State, consulting where appropriate, sets strategic priorities for policing in England and Wales in the National Policing Plan. He may issue regulations, codes of practice and non-statutory guidance where he believes this to be in the interests of the efficiency and effectiveness of the police.

The Secretary of State, consulting where appropriate, sets strategic priorities for policing in England and Wales in the National Policing Plan. He may issue regulations, codes of practice and non-statutory guidance where he believes this to be in the interests of the efficiency and effectiveness of the police.

Police Stations (Lincolnshire)

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police stations in Lincolnshire in each year from 1997 to 2002. [94264]

Mr. Denham: The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police has provided a list of the 43 police stations in Lincolnshire in March 1997. There are now 41. Long Sutton was closed during 1997–98 and North Somercotes in 2001–02.

5 Feb 2003 : Column 337W

Lincolnshire Police Stations at March 1997 and March 2002


The decision to open or close a police station or restrict opening hours is an operational matter for the Chief Constable in the light of local circumstances and not one in which it would be appropriate for the Home Office or Ministers to become involved.

Next Section Index Home Page