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Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) work and (b) effectiveness of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. [159664]
Paul Goggins: The Criminal Cases Review Commission acts as a safety net to the Criminal Justice System. I commend the hard work of its Chairman, Members and staff in establishing the Commission as an authoritative and respected body. The Commission has established a high reputation for its decision making, for
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impartiality, openness and thoroughness and has won the confidence of the public, the legal profession and related pressure groups.
Two thirds of the Commission's referrals have lead to quashed convictions or reduced sentences.
The Commission will be able to analyse the legal and investigative issues that still commonly arise in miscarriages of justice. The Commission will be able to provide advice to other stakeholders and agencies within the criminal justice system on actions that could help to minimise their incidence. The Commission's main priority, however, is to deal with its case accumulation, minimising the waiting time for applicants particularly those in custody. With additional funding, the Commission has made a considerable reduction in the number of cases awaiting a review from the 1999 peak. I have every confidence that the Commission will continue to make good progress towards this goal despite the recent unexpected rise in the number of applications.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received representations from people concerned about (a) a body of expert evidence and (b) particular investigative methods and subsequently investigated these concerns. [159706]
Paul Goggins: A large number of applications to the Commission have raised concerns over expert evidence and investigative methods. Such concerns when raised are considered and if necessary investigated further. Finding the precise number of such cases would involve a search of over 6, 500 records, which would incur disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his consultation with the Criminal Cases Review Commission regarding extension of its powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. [159707]
Paul Goggins: Home Office officials met most recently with the Criminal Cases Review Commission on 4 February 2004 to discuss further their proposals for extending their powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. The proposals involve the complex issue of third party disclosure and are still under active consideration.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department will provide the Criminal Cases Review Commission with additional resources in order for it to (a) review and (b) research non-referred cases. [159708]
Paul Goggins: At the present time it would be inappropriate to distract the Criminal Cases Review Commission from its main goal of minimising case accumulation.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Criminal Records Bureau checks were outstanding at the most recent date for which information is available for (a) less than four
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weeks, (b) four to six weeks, (c) six to 12 weeks, (d) 12 to 26 weeks and (e) more than 26 weeks; and what steps are being taken to reduce delays in responding. [162211]
Ms Blears [holding answer 18 March 2004]: The information that the hon. Member for Isle of Wight has asked for on the number of outstanding checks broken down in the manner requested is not available from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) systems.
A weekly report is produced by the CRB to establish the number of outstanding applications held within the computer system. This report displays applications that have been outstanding from one week to six weeks. These figures are broken down further to show the number of applications that have been with the CRB from 0-four weeks, four-six weeks and over six weeks.
As at 29 February 2004, the CRB has a total of 105,218 applications awaiting completion.
The number of applications awaiting completion over six weeks, approximately 1.5 per cent. of the overall total, falls well within the 5 per cent. tolerance, as stipulated in our Public Service Standard.
The CRB continues to monitor its performance and implement measures aimed at minimising backlogs and streamlining the Disclosure process. These measures have included:
For example, five members of CRB staff have been seconded to alleviate backlogs at Local Police Forces.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what identity verification processes were incorporated into the contract specification at the time that the Criminal Records Bureau let the contract to Capita; what identity verification processes are being used; and if he will make a statement; [162600]
(3) what sources of data he has directed that the Criminal Records Bureau should use in conducting identity verification processes. [162602]
Ms Blears: The initial contract with Capita, which envisaged the majority of applications being made via the telephone, included an on-line identity check using Experian's on-line system. This was deemed to be the most efficient method as an applicant could be asked for sufficient information to "pass" the check while making the application via the call centre.
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The subsequent introduction of the paper application channel, which now accounts for 87 per cent. of all applications made this route unviable as specific questions aimed at obtaining a pass score cannot be asked on a paper application form.
In line with the recommendation of the Independent Review Team appointed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in September 2002 powers have been taken in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to make Registered Bodies solely responsible for identity and address verification. The CRB issues guidance to Registered Bodies showing the type of documentation a Registered Body should use to verify name and address. The CRB Code of Practice requires Registered Bodies to check documents contained in this list
The CRB does use "postcode look up" to verify that an address exists but does not carry out any further address checks. The revised contract with Capita reflects this.
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many custody suite facilities are available in Cornwall; and what plans he has for additional custody suites. [162648]
Ms Blears: There is currently one designated custody suite operating in Cornwall. This is at Camborne police station, which has 25 cells. However, St Austell police station, which has eight cells and is not designated as a custody suite, is currently being used as a temporary option while the 11 cells at Newquay police station are undergoing extensive refurbishment. When Newquay reopens in May this year, St Austell police station will no longer be used as a custody suite. Planners are currently considering the designs for a new custody suite at Launceton and subject to planning consent, this will be open in 2005 and will provide an additional 21 cells. There are other cells available in police stations across Cornwall that are not part of custody suite facilities.
Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set up a working group to review the Firearms Rules 1998. [161770]
Caroline Flint: Any review of the Firearms Rules 1998 would be largely consequential on the outcome of the review we are undertaking of the principal legislation. Certain aspects of the Rules are, however, currently being looked at by a group of practitioners on which the police and shooting organisations are represented.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) work and (b) findings of the Historical Abuse Appeal Panel, established by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. [159712]
Paul Goggins: The Historical Abuse Appeal Panel was not established by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. It was created by a specialist group of
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lawyers. The Commission is working with the Panel on a number of applications that involve convictions for child sex abuse in care homes.
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