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9 Feb 2004 : Column 1289W—continued
Rehabilitation Programmes
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which rehabilitation programmes have been the most effective in reducing the reconviction rate; and what plans he has to extend these programmes to all prisons. [148907]
Paul Goggins: Prisoners are imprisoned for many different kinds of offences, ranging widely in character and seriousness. No one programme is likely to be effective in reducing re-offending on the part of all offenders. The Correctional Services Accreditation Panel accredits programmes which are based on the international evidence about what is likely to be effective in reducing re-offending. Cognitive skills programmes, sex offender treatment programmes, drug treatment programmes and therapeutic communities have all been accredited, as well as programmes designed to address violent offending and domestic violence specifically. These interventions are subject to ongoing evaluation, including research into their impact on reconviction rates.
Over 100 prison establishments currently run accredited programmes and although the overall number is increasing there are no plans at present to extend them to every prison, as they are not suitable for all prisoners, particularly those serving short sentences. All prison establishments, however, are required to provide constructive regimes which address offending behaviour, improve educational and work skills and promote law abiding behaviour in custody and after release. Other activities which support rehabilitation and address prisoners' resettlement needs include learning and skills, prison work, involvement in pre-release programmes, housing advice and support services, Jobcentre Plus prison surgeries and job search training and support.
The establishment of a new single National Offender Management Service will focus on reducing re-offending and equipping offenders to turn away from crime. Regional offender managers will, in the future, be responsible for commissioning offender management services and interventions to reduce re-offending.
Risk of Sexual Harm Orders
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many risk of sexual harm orders have been issued. [150331]
Paul Goggins: The Sexual Offences Act 2003, which provided for the risk of sexual harm orders, is not due to come into force until May 2004. As a result no risk of sexual harm orders have yet been made.
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Sentences
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on changes in sentence lengths since 1991. [150350]
Paul Goggins: Information on trends in sentencing is contained in chapter 4 of Criminal statistics, England and Wales, 2002 (Cm 6054) published in December 2003.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to ensure consistency of sentencing practice. [150354]
Paul Goggins: The recent Criminal Justice Act 2003 created the Sentencing Guidelines Council. The purpose of the council is to produce robust and comprehensive sentencing guidelines. By providing an important bridge between what legislation provides and how that legislation is used, the guidelines will assist the courts in their task of effecting consistent and just disposals in all cases.
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ask the Sentencing Guidelines Council to consider reducing overall sentencing lengths for offences not involving violence, drugs or sexual matters. [152752]
Paul Goggins: It is the role of the Sentencing Guidelines Council to issue guidance on all aspects of sentencing so as to promote consistent and just sentencing by the courts within the framework provided by Parliament. The guidance will be issued following an evaluation period and will be proportionate in severity to the nature of the offence.
It will be for the Council to make its proposals, and there will be opportunities for criminal justice professionals, the public and Parliament to make their views known to the Council. While no type of criminal behaviour can be condoned or minimised, the Home Secretary has made clear that custody should be reserved for serious offenders.
Serious Criminal Offenders (Travel)
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were charged with serious criminal offences and allowed to travel outside in each of the last five years. [150802]
Paul Goggins: This information is not held centrally.
Sex Abuse Guidelines
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the updated guidelines on anonymity for those accused of historical sex abuse were sent to police forces; [148881]
- (2) what the terms of guidelines on anonymity for those accused of historical sex abuse (a) were before and (b) are since recent amendments were put into effect. [148882]
Paul Goggins: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has amended its guidelines to all police forces to give greater prominence to the rules that govern the release of information about anyone suspected of, but not yet charged with, an offence. The
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guidance underlines that suspects should not be named before charge and goes on to highlight the possible dangers of doing so, in that not only is there the risk of causing irreparable damage to a suspect's reputation, but also that unwarranted disclosure could leave a force open to civil proceedings. Updated guidance was sent to all police forces via the ACPO intranet in October 2003 and may be viewed on www.acpo.police.uk. We have asked that a copy of previous guidance be sent to my hon. Friend.
Speeding
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for increases in fines for drivers caught speeding; and how the extra money raised will help victims of (a) crime and (b) road traffic accidents. [149095]
Paul Goggins [holding answer 21 January 2004]: I would refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 18WS. This announced the publication of a consultation paper entitled 'Compensation and Support for Victims of Crime', which set out proposals to provide a wide range of support for victims of crime and to amend the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
A central plank of the proposals was to make all offenders pay for their crimes and to help all victims.
One of the key proposals was to add a surcharge to all criminal convictions, and to fixed penalty notices for criminal offences. The surcharge would be additional to the fine or any other penalty imposed, and would be payable by those who were convicted of a criminal offence, those who receive a penalty notice for disorder, and those who receive a fixed penalty notice for a road traffic offence, including drivers breaking the law by speeding.
The money raised through the surcharge would go into a new Victims' Fund, as would monies raised in the other ways described in the consultation paper. The money from that fund would be spent directly on services for victims of crime including, for example, victims of rape and sexual assault, victims of domestic
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violence and hate crime, and the many seriously injured victims of road traffic incidents and the bereaved relatives of victims.
We welcome comment on all the ideas and proposals set out in the consultation paper. Subject to the outcome of this consultation exercise, we propose to legislate to make the changes, where necessary, through amendments to the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill currently before Parliament.
Wetherby Young Offenders Institution
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 14 January 2004, Official Report, column 762W, on HMYOI Wetherby, what the reasons were for the increase in (a) costs per prisoner and (b) cost per prisoner place at HMYOI Wetherby. [151131]
Paul Goggins: Baseline funding for HMYOI Wetherby has risen from £6.7 million in 1998–99 to £10.2 million in 2002–03. The change from cash to resource based accounting over this period reflects part of this increase, but the major structural and regime changes at HMYOI Wetherby following its re-role to a juvenile only establishment have been the main reason for increased funding. This increase has led to a greatly improved regime generating improved numeracy and literacy among prisoners, better opportunities for training and employment, increased employability through practical and vocational activities and the addressing of offending behaviour issues.
Women Prisoners
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners there are; and how many are imprisoned for offences relating to drugs. [145289]
Paul Goggins: The number of females in prison in England and Wales on 30 January 2004 was 4,378.
At the end of May 2003 (the most recent published data covering the detail required to answer the question) there were 176 females on remand for drugs offences and 1,318 females under sentence for drugs offences, out of a total female population of 4,495.