House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 24 Feb 2003 (pt 27)

24 Feb 2003 : Column 104W—continued

Correspondence

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walthamstow will receive a reply to his letters to the Department of 14 February 2002, 21 May 2002, 29 August 2002 and 22 October 2002, regarding his constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Thankarajah (Home Office ref T1009737). [96562]

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 February 2003.

24 Feb 2003 : Column 105W

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters dated 20 November 2002 and 4 January from the honourable Member for Altrincham and Sale West regarding the case of Mr. Christopher Rowley. [96613]

Hilary Benn: I replied to the hon. Member on 6 February 2003.

County Durham Police

Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the budget of the County Durham Police was spent on pension funds in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 and is projected to be spent in 2003. [97159]

Mr. Denham: The Chief Constable informs me that the proportion of budget spent on police pensions and contributions towards civilian pensions is as follows:

(a) 14 per cent. in financial year 1999–2000; (b) 14 per cent. in 2000–01; (c) 15 per cent. in 2001–02; and 16 per cent. is estimated to be spent in 2002–03.

Credit Card Fraud

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reports he has received about the trend in respect of credit card fraud; what he estimates its most recent annual level in the UK was; which new forms of such fraud are giving the authorities most cause for concern; what proposals and advice he is planning to help tackle the problem; and if he will make a statement. [97172]

Mr. Denham: The Government recognises that plastic card fraud in the UK has increased considerably over recent years. In the Home Office publication, "Crime in England and Wales, 2001–02: Supplementary Volume" published on 9 January 2003, it was shown that the police recorded 153,281 cheque and credit card offences in 2001–02. The Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) estimated the losses from cheque, debit and credit or charge card fraud in the 12 months to August 2002 at £429.4 million.

Skimming (electronically copying a card's magnetic stripe and using it to make an illegal copy of a genuine card) is a relatively new form of card fraud, which is

24 Feb 2003 : Column 106W

giving the financial services sector and police cause for concern. Counterfeit card losses comprise over a third of total plastic card fraud losses.

The Government has committed £1.4 million over two years, in partnership with APACS, to piloting the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU). The Unit, which started work in April 2002, has enjoyed significant early success, recovering more than 3,000 cards and 468 cheques. This has led to 44 arrests and four convictions with potential savings of £5.3 million. A detailed evaluation of the DCPCU's performance will be used to inform decisions on the future of the Unit and to guide national policy for tackling organised and plastic card fraud.

The Home Office is also actively supporting the finance and retail industry in its implementation of the Chip and PIN programme. New technology will require UK credit and debit card transactions to be authorised by the customer keying in a four-digit PIN (personal identification number) rather than by signing a receipt. The banking industry expects that by 2005 the new technology will have eliminated over half of the predicted level of plastic card fraud. A public trial of the programme will take place in Northampton shortly and national roll-out will begin after the trial is complete.

The Government, working closely with stakeholders, launched its Safe Internet Shopping Campaign in 2001 to advise consumers on safe payment and give them directions to the Government's Consumer Gateway www.consumer.gov.uk which provides links to sources of detailed information.

The Government welcomes the involvement of the banking industry in actively seeking ways to prevent and detect crime such as plastic card fraud.

Crime (Humberside)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of prisoners in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales tested positive for drugs in each of the past five years. [97720]

Hilary Benn: The following tables detail the number and proportion of prisoners in the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden, the County of the East Riding of Yorkshire and in England and Wales who tested positive for drugs under the Prison Service random mandatory drug testing programme in each of the past five years.

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Geographical Area Prisons No. Positive Percentage Positive No. Positive Percentage Positive No. Positive Percentage Positive No. Positive Percentage Positive No. Positive Percentage Positive

Haltemprice and Howden Constituency Everthorpe Wolds 108

86 27.1

18.0 168

88 29.8

17.8 61

58 22.3

11.9 71

39 25.1

7.9 61

16 13.9

3.3

County of the East Riding of Yorkshire Full SuttoriEverthorpe Wolds 38

108 6.4

27.1 45

168 6.8

29.8 39

61 5.8

22.3 29

71 4.2

25.1 43

61 6.0

13.9

86 18.0 88 17.8 58 11.9 39 7.9 16 3.3

England and Wales All 13,038 20.8 11,552 18.3 7,804 14.2 6,382 12.4 6,060 11.6

		1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Geographical Area	Prisons	No. Positive	Percentage Positive	No. Positive	Percentage Positive	No. Positive	Percentage Positive	No. Positive	Percentage Positive	No. Positive	Percentage Positive
Haltemprice and Howden Constituency	Everthorpe Wolds	108
86	27.1
18.0	168
88	29.8
17.8	61
58	22.3
11.9	71
39	25.1
7.9	61
16	13.9
3.3
County of the East Riding of Yorkshire	Full SuttoriEverthorpe Wolds	38
108	6.4
27.1	45
168	6.8
29.8	39
61	5.8
22.3	29
71	4.2
25.1	43
61	6.0
13.9
		86	18.0	88	17.8	58	11.9	39	7.9	16	3.3
England and Wales	All	13,038	20.8	11,552	18.3	7,804	14.2	6,382	12.4	6,060	11.6

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many crimes were committed by juvenile offenders in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) the Humberside Police Authority area in each quarter since 1997; and how many cautions were issued; [97724]

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

24 Feb 2003 : Column 107W

Hilary Benn: The information contained in the table gives the number of children convicted of all offences, those given cautions, reprimands and final warnings and those in care in Humberside, 1997 to 2001.

The information collected centrally does not enable cases in the Haltemprice and Howden constituency to be identified nor cautions in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

24 Feb 2003 : Column 108W

Neither is it possible to give the number of crimes committed by juveniles, only the number of juveniles who are found guilty of all offences.

Figures on children looked after by local councils were supplied by the Department of Health.

Statistics for 2002 will be published in the autumn.

Number of children found guilty at all courts for all offences, number given cautions, reprimands and final warnings and the number in care, Humberside 1997 to 2001

1997 1998

Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total

East Riding of Yorkshire

Children aged 10–17 found guilty 87 102 83 90 362 105 101 99 97 402

Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾ 175 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— 215 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾ ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Humberside Police Force Area

Children aged 10–17 found guilty 372 374 361 426 1,533 430 417 391 396 1,634

Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾ 1,365 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— 1,460 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾ 536 447 500 468 1,951 574 568 609 626 2,377

1999 2000

Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total

East Riding of Yorkshire

Children aged 10–17 found guilty 107 100 128 138 473 104 107 93 101 405

Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾ 220 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— 240 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾ ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Humberside Police Force Area

Children aged 10–17 found guilty 407 449 507 494 1,857 468 384 428 470 1,750

Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾ 1,385 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— 1,350 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— 75 320 291 686

Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— 24 136 155 315

Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾ 486 507 395 521 1,909 330 519 ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— 849

2001

Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total

East Riding of Yorkshire

Children aged 10–17 found guilty 143 84 112 93 432

Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾ 205 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾ ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Humberside Police Force Area

Children aged 10–17 found guilty 535 324 477 382 1,718

Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾ 1,230 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand 354 329 247 186 1,116

Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning 191 195 129 74 589

Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾ ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾— ⁽²¹⁾—

	1997	1998
	Qtr 1	Qtr 2	Qtr 3	Qtr 4	Total	Qtr 1	Qtr 2	Qtr 3	Qtr 4	Total
East Riding of Yorkshire
Children aged 10–17 found guilty	87	102	83	90	362	105	101	99	97	402
Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾	175	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	215	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—

Humberside Police Force Area
Children aged 10–17 found guilty	372	374	361	426	1,533	430	417	391	396	1,634
Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾	1,365	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	1,460	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾	536	447	500	468	1,951	574	568	609	626	2,377

		1999		2000
	Qtr 1	Qtr 2	Qtr 3	Qtr 4	Total	Qtr 1	Qtr 2	Qtr 3	Qtr 4	Total
East Riding of Yorkshire
Children aged 10–17 found guilty	107	100	128	138	473	104	107	93	101	405
Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾	220	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	240	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—

Humberside Police Force Area
Children aged 10–17 found guilty	407	449	507	494	1,857	468	384	428	470	1,750
Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾	1,385	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	1,350	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	75	320	291	686
Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	24	136	155	315
Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾	486	507	395	521	1,909	330	519	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	849

		2001
	Qtr 1	Qtr 2	Qtr 3	Qtr 4	Total
East Riding of Yorkshire
Children aged 10–17 found guilty	143	84	112	93	432
Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾	205	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—

Humberside Police Force Area
Children aged 10–17 found guilty	535	324	477	382	1,718
Children aged 0–17 looked after at 31 March⁽¹⁸⁾	1,230	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Children aged 10–17 receiving a reprimand	354	329	247	186	1,116
Children aged 10–17 receiving a final warning	191	195	129	74	589
Children aged 10–17 receiving a caution⁽²⁰⁾	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—	⁽²¹⁾—

⁽¹⁸⁾ Looked after by local councils—numbers exclude children looked after under a series of short term placements. (Information supplied by Department of Health—figures rounded to the nearest five).

⁽¹⁹⁾ Not applicable.

⁽²⁰⁾ Cautions were replaced by reprimands and final warnings from June 2000.

⁽²¹⁾ Not available.

24 Feb 2003 : Column 109W

Next Section

Index

Home Page