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9 Dec 2003 : Column 400W—continued
Closed Circuit Television Cameras
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds are available for installation of CCTV cameras in villages. [142170]
Ms Blears: There are currently funds available for the installation of CCTV in all locations, including villages, under the Building Safer Communities Fund. The Building Safer Communities Fund is allocated by the Home Office to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to enable them to tackle local crime priorities through a number of interventions, including CCTV. For 2003–04 the Building Safer Communities Fund has provided Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships with £72.3 million.
Community Support Officers
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers served (a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West region in each year since 1992. [141290]
Ms Blears: The Community Support Officers (CSO) initiative began in September 2002. Accordingly between 1992 and September 2002, there were no CSOs in St. Helens, Merseyside and the North West region.
The table gives a breakdown of CSO deployment in the North West region from December 2002 to date and a projection for April 2004.
| Force | 31 December 2002 | 1 April 2003 | (21)Recruitment to date | (22)1 April 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Helens | 0 | 8 | 10 | 20 |
| Merseyside | 0 | 40 | 64 | 100 |
| Total North West Region | 21 | 278 | 357 | 426 |
(21) 1 December 2003
(22) Projection
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Crime (St. Helens)
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) violent crimes, (b) gun-related crimes and (c) burglaries which were drug-related in Merseyside in each year since 1992; [141288]
- (2) how many reported crimes there were in St. Helens in each year since 1992, broken down by major category. [141289]
Ms Blears: Statistical data on numbers of offences recorded in different areas do not indicate which may have been committed due to drug taking. However, results from the NEW-ADAM research programme of interviewing and drug testing arrestees between 1999 and 2000 sheds some light on the links between drugs and crime in 16 sites throughout England and Wales. Summary data published in 2001 found that:
- (a) 56 per cent. of arrestees tested positive for an illegal drug with up to 29 per cent. testing positive for opiates (including heroin) and/or cocaine (including crack);
- (b) of those arrestees who reported using illegal drugs in the year prior to arrest, 40 per cent. acknowledged a link between their drug use and offending. Past year users of heroin and/or cocaine/crack were nearly twice as likely (78 per cent.) to acknowledge a link.
- (c) Those not reporting any drug use in the last year reported an average of 46 acquisitive crimes (including theft, burglary, shoplifting, fraud, handling stolen goods, drugs supply and prostitution offences) over the same period. Drug use in general and especially use of heroin and/or cocaine/crack (hcc), was associated with much higher levels of offending. Among hcc users, respondents reported an average of 432 acquisitive crimes. This was nearly ten times higher than for non-drug users.
However, it should be noted that because an arrestee tested positive for drugs it does not necessarily mean that the consumption of drugs caused the crime to be committed. As a result, while the NEW-ADAM study advanced our knowledge of the links between drugs and crime, it will always be difficult to calculate precisely what proportion of crime is drug-related.
In September 2003, the Home Office Arrestee Survey commenced at 60 randomly selected custody suites in England and Wales. The survey is ongoing, and involves interviewing and drug testing a representative sample of around 9,000 arrestees per year about their offending and drug use. The survey will enable research into the links between drugs and offending and will also provide robust data at a national level to allow tracking of the Home Office Public Service Agreement target to reduce drug related crime.
Numbers of crimes recorded by the police in St. Helens are collected and published at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level. At this level, data is available from 1999–2000 to 2002–2003, and the number of crimes recorded are published for six key offence groups, as given in the table.
(23) Merseyside implemented the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) on 1 April 2002. This will have had the effect of inflating the number of crimes counted. Therefore, following the introduction of the Standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not directly comparable with previous years.
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Crime Figures
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how may crimes were committed per head of population in West Derbyshire police force areas in the last five years for which figures are available; [141427]
- (2) how many deaths there have been because of (a) dangerous driving, (b) driving under the influence of illegal drugs and (c) driving under the influence of alcohol in (i) West Derbyshire and (ii) East Midlands in each year since 2001. [141429]
Ms Blears: Information on the total number of crimes in West Derbyshire is not available centrally. Recorded crimes per head of population relating to relating to the Derbyshire Constabulary area is given in the table.
| Derbyshire | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99(24) | 87 |
| 1999–2000 | 88 |
| 2000–01 | 84 |
| 2001–02 | 92 |
| 2002–03(25) | 108 |
(24) There was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which had the affect of increasing the number of crimes counted. Numbers of offences for years before and after this date, and figures calculated from them, are therefore not directly comparable.
(25) The National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced in the Derbyshire Constabulary area in April 2002. Nationally, the NCRS has had the effect of increasing the number of rimes recorded by the police. Therefore, following the introduction of the Standard numbers of recorded crimes and figures derived from them are not comparable with previous years.
Statistics on the number of deaths caused by dangerous driving, driving under the influence of illegal drugs and driving under the influence of alcohol, are not available.
Forensic Science Service
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the proposed privatisation of the Forensic Science Service. [141861]
Ms Blears: We are not proposing to privatise the Forensic Science Service (FSS). The reasons for the decision to transform the FSS into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) were set out in the Home Secretary's statement to the House on 17 July. The actions we are taking to establish a successful PPP will ensure that the
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FSS will continue to compete successfully in partnership with government, while continuing to protect the public interest and deliver major benefits to the wider criminal justice system.
We have accepted the recommendation of the independent Review of the FSS that the National DNA Database should remain exclusively under public sector control. Arrangements for the future ownership, governance and management are currently subject to consultation between Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of Police Authorities and the Home Office.
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been carried out to estimate the future level of investment needed by the Forensic Science Service in the years 2004 to 2007. [141933]
Ms Blears: Internal and external studies have been undertaken in order to estimate the future level of investment needed by the Forensic Science Service (FSS) in the years 2004–07.
Each year the FSS reviews its short, medium and long-term investment plans as part of its internal corporate and business planning process.
The recent Review of the FSS led by Robert McFarland in 2002–03 for the Home Office assessed the future level of investment needed by the Agency from an external perspective.
Additionally, the FSS's requirements in the area of investment will be reviewed as part of the move to establish it as a Public Private Partnership.
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislation is required to alter the status of the Forensic Science Service in line with the proposed Government plans for the service. [141934]
Ms Blears: The transformation of the Forensic Science Service into a Public Private Partnership will require the revocation of The Forensic Science Service Trading Fund Order 1998.
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the terms of reference are for the Development and Remuneration Committee of the Forensic Science Service. [141935]
Ms Blears: The Development and Remuneration Committee of the Forensic Science Service is responsible for advising on the organisation of the agency, the staff reward and recognition strategy, and its management and succession planning.
The Committee also reviews and makes recommendations regarding non-executive directors' fees and expenses, and the terms and conditions of the Chief Executive and the Executive Board.
Dr. Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the terms of reference of the Home Office Review of the Forensic Science Service. [142191]
Ms Blears: I have arranged for a copy of the Final Report of the independent review of the Forensic Science Service to be placed in the Library.
9 Dec 2003 : Column 404W
Dr. Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of the Home Office Review of the Forensic Science Service. [142192]
Ms Blears: The implementation of the recommendations of the independent review of the Forensic Science Service, including the timetable for its transformation into a Public Private Partnership, are currently the subject of detailed discussions with key stakeholders.
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