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10 Nov 2003 : Column 118W—continued
Road Safety
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been of people using a mobile telephone while driving in each year since 1997. [130750]
Paul Goggins: Currently there is no specific offence of driving a motor vehicle while using a mobile telephone. Such conduct may however amount or contribute to another offence. In the main prosecutions and convictions in such circumstances are likely to be for driving without due care and attention or not being in proper control of a vehicle.
From 1 December 2003 the specific offence of driving while using a hand-held mobile telephone will be introduced under a new regulation to be added to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
Romford Police Station
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers are based at Romford police station; [136482]
- (2) how many administrative workers are employed by the Metropolitan Police within the constituency of Romford. [136483]
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Ms Blears: Romford is part of the borough of Havering. I am told by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Sir John Stevens) that at the end of August Havering had 353 police officers and 74 police (support) staff.
The deployment of police personnel within the borough is an operational matter for the Borough Commander. Information about the number of officers and police staff deployed at Romford police station or the Romford constituency is not collected centrally. Deployment of resources will reflect operational pressures across the borough.
Rural Policing
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on rural policing in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) New Earswick. [134843]
Ms Blears: We need effective policing arrangements in all areas, urban and rural. The annual £30 million Rural Policing Fund has been specifically provided to increase the visibility and accessibility of police in rural areas. North Yorkshire Police receive over £2 million or 6.7 per cent. of the fund. I understand that this has been used to fund 60 additional officers as well as additional scenes of crime staff and support staff. North Yorkshire now has 37 Community Support Officers who patrol across the force area. They help to tackle low-level crime, public disorder and to provide public reassurance in both urban and rural communities.
The policing of New Earswick is a matter for the Chief Constable. The force have drawn valuable lessons from a recent report evaluating a community policing initiative in New Earswick (Great Expectations: Contracted community policing in New Earswick).
Sentencing Guidelines Council
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to give directions to the Sentencing Guidelines Council. [136260]
Paul Goggins: Subject to the successful passage of the relevant provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill, the Home Secretary of State will have the power, at any time, to propose to the Council that sentencing or allocation guidelines be framed or revised by the Council.
Special Branch
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Special Branch constables were employed by Humberside police on 1 September in each of the last three years. [136470]
Ms Blears: It is not our policy to disclose details of Special Branch deployments at force level in the interests of national security, as to do so could compromise operations.
Special Constables
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there are in England and Wales. [136415]
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Ms Blears: The latest police service strength figures for the year ending 31 March 2003 were published on 1 October 2003 in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 11/03. The number of special constables in England and Wales was 11,037.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in London in each year since 1997. [136523]
Ms Blears: The number of special constables in the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Special Constabularies since 1997 are set out as follows:
| 31 March | Metropolitan Police Service | City ofLondon | Total for both London Forces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1,714 | 86 | 1,800 |
| 1998 | 1,282 | 76 | 1,358 |
| 1999 | 1,138 | 64 | 1,202 |
| 2000 | 758 | 56 | 814 |
| 2001 | 774 | 43 | 817 |
| 2002 | 680 | 36 | 716 |
| 2003 | 692 | 42 | 734 |
We are working with stakeholders to increase the size and effectiveness of the Special Constabulary. In particular, we are rolling out Home Office/Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) 'Good Practice Guidance'; we are also arranging a second national specials weekend to help raise the profile of specials and the invaluable work they do; and we are assisting forces to boost their capacity to recruit and manage specials effectively.
Staff Turnover
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the turnover rate among senior staff within the Department. [136239]
Fiona Mactaggart: Senior positions in the Home Office are filled through either open competition or internal promotion boards. The Department's policy is to attract, develop and retain good senior staff. That increasingly means providing development opportunities for senior staff within and outside Whitehall. This will increase the turnover of such staff but the overall impact of this policy on the Department's business will be overwhelmingly positive.
Thames Valley Police
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to provide funding for Thames Valley Police Force to boost retention and recruitment including (a) the offer of free travel and (b) to reduce the pay differential between that force and the Metropolitan Police Force. [136022]
Ms Blears: Government policy is to support the recruitment and retention of public servants in the South East through the Communities Plan announced by my right hon. friend the Deputy Prime Minister (John Prescott) on 21 October, with generous provisions for key worker housing.
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Free travel is a matter for the Thames Valley Police Authority.
There are no plans to change the system of regional allowances for officers in the South East and London.
Television Licence/Motor Insurance
Mr. Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there were of people resident in (a) Sunderland and (b) Tyne and Wear for (i) non-payment of the television licence fee and (ii) driving without motor insurance in each year since 2000; and what penalties were handed out in each case. [136517]
Paul Goggins: The available information is contained in the table.
Statistics for 2002 will be published in December.
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| Year | Proceeded against | Found guilty | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 (mainly television licence evasion) | ||||
| Tyne and Wear | 2000 | 5,358 | 4,672 | |
| 2001 | 6,581 | 5,766 | ||
| Of which, Sunderland | 2000 | 847 | 753 | |
| 2001 | 1,124 | 1,002 | ||
| Using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks(Road Traffic Act 1988, sec 143(2)) | ||||
| Tyne and Wear | 2000 | 6,397 | 4,931 | |
| 2001 | 5,958 | 4,608 | ||
| Of which, Sunderland | 2000 | 1,272 | 1,003 | |
| 2001 | 1,103 | 873 | ||
| Year | Absolute/conditional discharge | Fine | Community sentence | Fully suspended sentence | Immediate custody | Otherwise dealt with | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 (mainly television licence evasion) | ||||||||
| Tyne and Wear | 2000 | 138 | 4,534 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2001 | 90 | 5,676 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Of which, Sunderland | 2000 | 19 | 734 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2001 | 16 | 986 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks (Road Traffic Act 1988, sec 143(2)) | ||||||||
| Tyne and Wear | 2000 | 441 | 4,336 | 30 | — | — | 124 | |
| 2001 | 461 | 4,027 | 38 | — | — | 82 | ||
| Of which, Sunderland | 2000 | 90 | 854 | 5 | — | — | 54 | |
| 2001 | 86 | 757 | 2 | — | — | 28 | ||
(31) These data are on the principal offence basis
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