House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 23 Feb 2004 (pt 61)

23 Feb 2004 : Column 242W—continued

Persistent Offenders

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will change the definition of persistent offenders, with particular reference to rural areas. [151941]

23 Feb 2004 : Column 243W

Paul Goggins: The national Persistent Offender Scheme that came into effect in April 2003 defines a Core Persistent Offender as "someone who is 18 or over and has been convicted of six or more recordable offences in the last 12 months". The definition was developed in order to provide an objective test of persistent offending that can be applied across the criminal justice system. However the scheme recognises that there are individuals who do not meet this definition, who may be suspected of being prolific offenders on the basis of local intelligence. Therefore Local Criminal Justice Areas have the flexibility also to apply persistent offender strategies to "Local Persistent Offenders", identified on the basis of local intelligence and priorities, which could include issues of particular relevance to rural areas.

Police

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents involving police cars there were (a) in total and (b) involving fatalities in each year since 1997 (i) in England and Wales and (ii) in each police force area; and if he will make a statement. [155062]

Caroline Flint: The total number of accidents involving police vehicles in England and Wales is given in the table. The number of police and civilian fatalities

23 Feb 2004 : Column 244W

arising from police responses to immediate/emergency calls and pursuits are also separately shown.

The Government welcome the recognition by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that they must work to reduce the number of collisions involving police vehicles.

Measures already in place include a new police driver training course, launched in December 2000, which introduced a universal standard for driving in England and Wales. An essential element of the course is that officers should recognise the need to give priority to public safety above all other considerations such as attending an incident or apprehending a suspect.

Where pursuits are concerned, there is a nationally agreed ACPO Pursuit Code of Practice and it is already police policy to consider continuously the consequences of a pursuit and whether to break it off.

ACPO are working closely with the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to identify how police vehicle collisions might be avoided. Useful information can be expected from the increasing use by forces of Automatic Data Recorders (ADR) and Vehicle Accident Data Recorders (VADR). These operate in a similar way to aircraft black boxes, providing data on such issues as speed, gear changes, breaking, and the use of blue lights.

Total police vehicle accidents Values

Time periods

Forces 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

England and Wales 16,908 16,946 17,338 18,068 19,266 16,826 18,644

Avon and Somerset 507 477 531 457 394 616 647

Bedfordshire 205 320 161 215 170 167 196

Cambridgeshire 256 303 238 200 225 183 217

Cheshire 194 111 142 112 124 175 167

City of London 80 62 64 56 90 30 142

Cleveland 75 86 44 62 92 ⁽⁶⁰⁾— 186

Cumbria 116 133 87 144 152 182 447

Derbyshire 320 383 399 355 379 399 449

Devon and Cornwall 250 308 337 347 352 369 184

Dorset 119 139 129 143 166 188 ⁽⁶⁰⁾—

Durham 159 142 184 157 182 178 204

Dyfed-Powys 75 42 40 88 162 198 414

Essex 391 396 406 392 446 392 203

Gloucestershire 196 147 163 228 181 124 1,038

Greater Manchester 957 774 933 981 1,108 1,050 160

Gwent 195 182 217 194 179 199 543

Hampshire 555 594 560 665 622 617 344

Hertfordshire 223 196 197 221 307 310 150

Humberside 188 207 236 162 198 194 732

Kent 423 546 448 427 507 506 510

Lancashire 449 268 160 417 331 244 180

Leicestershire 214 173 186 168 161 145 131

Lincolnshire 71 94 185 149 141 114 38

Merseyside 320 414 262 335 260 325 240

Metropolitan Police 3,783 4,045 1,645 4,643 5,375 3,657 4,910

Norfolk 192 211 184 221 224 202 231

Northamptonshire 134 139 91 68 147 86 121

Northumbria ⁽⁶⁰⁾— 489 472 510 445 432 513

North Wales 95 48 46 46 77 92 60

North Yorkshire 131 140 140 102 167 117 397

Nottinghamshire 298 278 225 211 213 240 316

South Wales 597 563 651 663 873 833 917

South Yorkshire 292 357 400 367 279 216 316

Staffordshire 557 644 646 527 462 298 306

Suffolk 136 122 168 143 137 142 119

Surrey 270 108 108 42 148 103 320

Sussex 401 282 223 567 462 ⁽⁶⁰⁾— 470

Thames Valley 888 688 918 1,045 1,063 1,127 992

Warwickshire 137 135 123 136 132 135 119

West Mercia 175 270 260 201 234 202 293

West Midlands 1,503 1,367 1,210 1,220 1,286 1,360 ⁽⁶⁰⁾—

West Yorkshire 728 500 453 629 553 619 672

Wiltshire 53 63 66 52 60 60 50

	Time periods
Forces	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03


England and Wales	16,908	16,946	17,338	18,068	19,266	16,826	18,644
Avon and Somerset	507	477	531	457	394	616	647
Bedfordshire	205	320	161	215	170	167	196
Cambridgeshire	256	303	238	200	225	183	217
Cheshire	194	111	142	112	124	175	167
City of London	80	62	64	56	90	30	142
Cleveland	75	86	44	62	92	⁽⁶⁰⁾—	186
Cumbria	116	133	87	144	152	182	447
Derbyshire	320	383	399	355	379	399	449
Devon and Cornwall	250	308	337	347	352	369	184
Dorset	119	139	129	143	166	188	⁽⁶⁰⁾—
Durham	159	142	184	157	182	178	204
Dyfed-Powys	75	42	40	88	162	198	414
Essex	391	396	406	392	446	392	203
Gloucestershire	196	147	163	228	181	124	1,038
Greater Manchester	957	774	933	981	1,108	1,050	160
Gwent	195	182	217	194	179	199	543
Hampshire	555	594	560	665	622	617	344
Hertfordshire	223	196	197	221	307	310	150
Humberside	188	207	236	162	198	194	732
Kent	423	546	448	427	507	506	510
Lancashire	449	268	160	417	331	244	180
Leicestershire	214	173	186	168	161	145	131
Lincolnshire	71	94	185	149	141	114	38
Merseyside	320	414	262	335	260	325	240
Metropolitan Police	3,783	4,045	1,645	4,643	5,375	3,657	4,910
Norfolk	192	211	184	221	224	202	231
Northamptonshire	134	139	91	68	147	86	121
Northumbria	⁽⁶⁰⁾—	489	472	510	445	432	513
North Wales	95	48	46	46	77	92	60
North Yorkshire	131	140	140	102	167	117	397
Nottinghamshire	298	278	225	211	213	240	316
South Wales	597	563	651	663	873	833	917
South Yorkshire	292	357	400	367	279	216	316
Staffordshire	557	644	646	527	462	298	306
Suffolk	136	122	168	143	137	142	119
Surrey	270	108	108	42	148	103	320
Sussex	401	282	223	567	462	⁽⁶⁰⁾—	470
Thames Valley	888	688	918	1,045	1,063	1,127	992
Warwickshire	137	135	123	136	132	135	119
West Mercia	175	270	260	201	234	202	293
West Midlands	1,503	1,367	1,210	1,220	1,286	1,360	⁽⁶⁰⁾—
West Yorkshire	728	500	453	629	553	619	672
Wiltshire	53	63	66	52	60	60	50

23 Feb 2004 : Column 245W

Police fatal road traffic accidents immediate/pursuitValues

Time periods

Forces 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

England and Wales 0 0 1 3 1 1 2

Avon and Somerset 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cheshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Derbyshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Dorset 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Essex 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Greater Manchester 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hampshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Humberside 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Lancashire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Merseyside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Metropolitan Police 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

South Wales 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Staffordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Surrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sussex 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Thames Valley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

West Mercia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

West Midlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

West Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

	Time periods
Forces	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
England and Wales	0	0	1	3	1	1	2
Avon and Somerset	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Bedfordshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cambridgeshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cheshire	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
City of London	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cleveland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cumbria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Derbyshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Devon and Cornwall	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dorset	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Durham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dyfed-Powys	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Essex	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gloucestershire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Greater Manchester	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Gwent	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hampshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hertfordshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Humberside	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Kent	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lancashire	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Leicestershire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lincolnshire	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Merseyside	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Metropolitan Police	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Norfolk	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northamptonshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northumbria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
North Wales	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
North Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nottinghamshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
South Wales	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
South Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Staffordshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Suffolk	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Surrey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sussex	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Thames Valley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Warwickshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
West Mercia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
West Midlands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
West Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wiltshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

23 Feb 2004 : Column 247W

Civilian fatal police vehicle accidents immediate/pursuitValues

Time periods

Forces 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

England and Wales 15 15 10 11 18 23 20

Avon and Somerset 2 0 0 0 1 0 2

Bedfordshire 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cheshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 ⁽⁶⁰⁾—

Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Derbyshire 0 1 0 0 0 3 0

Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Dorset 0 0 0 0 1 0 ⁽⁶⁰⁾—

Durham 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Essex 1 0 1 0 1 0 0

Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 0 3 4

Greater Manchester 2 8 2 1 6 5 0

Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Hampshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 ⁽⁶⁰⁾—

Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Kent 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Lancashire 2 0 0 0 0 0 ⁽⁶⁰⁾—

Leicestershire 2 0 2 0 0 0 0

Lincolnshire 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Merseyside 2 1 0 0 0 1 3

Metropolitan Police 1 1 1 1 6 2 4

Norfolk 0 0 0 3 1 0 1

Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northumbria 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

North Wales 0 0 0 1 0 2 0

North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 ⁽⁶⁰⁾—

Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

South Wales 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

South Yorkshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Staffordshire 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Surrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sussex 0 3 0 0 0 0 0

Thames Valley 1 0 0 2 0 1 3

Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

West Mercia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

West Midlands 1 0 0 0 0 1 ⁽⁶⁰⁾—

West Yorkshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

	Time periods
Forces	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
England and Wales	15	15	10	11	18	23	20
Avon and Somerset	2	0	0	0	1	0	2
Bedfordshire	0	0	1	0	0	1	0
Cambridgeshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cheshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
City of London	0	0	0	0	0	0	⁽⁶⁰⁾—
Cleveland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cumbria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Derbyshire	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
Devon and Cornwall	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dorset	0	0	0	0	1	0	⁽⁶⁰⁾—
Durham	0	0	1	0	0	1	0
Dyfed-Powys	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Essex	1	0	1	0	1	0	0
Gloucestershire	0	0	0	0	0	3	4
Greater Manchester	2	8	2	1	6	5	0
Gwent	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Hampshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	⁽⁶⁰⁾—
Hertfordshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Humberside	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kent	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lancashire	2	0	0	0	0	0	⁽⁶⁰⁾—
Leicestershire	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
Lincolnshire	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Merseyside	2	1	0	0	0	1	3
Metropolitan Police	1	1	1	1	6	2	4
Norfolk	0	0	0	3	1	0	1
Northamptonshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northumbria	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
North Wales	0	0	0	1	0	2	0
North Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	⁽⁶⁰⁾—
Nottinghamshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
South Wales	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
South Yorkshire	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Staffordshire	0	0	0	1	1	1	0
Suffolk	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Surrey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sussex	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
Thames Valley	1	0	0	2	0	1	3
Warwickshire	0	0	0	0	1	1	0
West Mercia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
West Midlands	1	0	0	0	0	1	⁽⁶⁰⁾—
West Yorkshire	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Wiltshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

⁽⁶⁰⁾ Indicate data not yet submitted by police force.

Notes:

1. The information is provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to which forces submit statistical returns.

2. All figures are for financial years.

3. The figures for police vehicle accidents include all incidents in which a police vehicle sustains damage, including those where no other vehicle is involved. They encompass a very wide range of incidents from the very serious to the trivial, such as a scratched vehicle in a police yard.

4. Details of the number of fatalities involving police vehicles engaged in activities other than immediate/emergency response or pursuit are not centrally available.

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