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7 Jun 2004 : Column 197W—continued
Probation Service
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has regarding the training programme for probation officers after (a) 2006 and (b) 2008. [176314]
Paul Goggins [holding answer 27 May 2004]: The current two-year Diploma in Probation Studies programme is well established and was the subject of a very positive inspection report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation in 2003.
In 2003, the degree element of the programme was re-tendered and contracts were let with higher education providers for a period of three years, with the potential for an extension to 2008. Plans for capacity building in preparation for the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act include an intake of trainee probation officers in 2005. The size of the cohort has not yet been agreed. This cohort will graduate in 2007.
Going beyond 2006, responsibility for training will lie within the new National Offender Management Service. Development work on this has yet to commence. Making sure that the Service has well-trained officers and staff will be one of the key priorities in our strategy to reduce re-offending.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how individual probation services will be held to account so that they reduce re-offending. [167517]
Paul Goggins:
Regional Offender Managers will be responsible for ensuring the effective management of all offenders regardless of whether they have received a custodial or community sentence or a combination of the two. The Regional Offender Managers will be line
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managed by the National Offender Manager who will report directly to the Chief Executive and will ultimately be responsible for reducing re-offending.
Productivity
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to (a) increase the productivity and (b) cut the costs of his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [171880]
Fiona Mactaggart: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 10 May 2004, Official Report, column 148W.
Prolific Offenders
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to target the most prolific offenders. [174959]
Paul Goggins: On 30 March 2004, the Prime Minister announced the development of a new strategy to target the most prolific offenders in our communities. Building on the success of the many prolific offenders schemes which have already been developed, local areas will be asked to focus on those individuals who, in their judgement, pose the greatest threat to the safety and confidence of their local communities.
Public Order
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how Chief Officers of police forces are held to account in relation to their force's actions concerning animal rights protesters' crimes. [175253]
Caroline Flint: Chief Officers are responsible for the day to day operational management of their force. Police authorities through their statutory duty maintain an efficient and effective police force for their area. I am in regular contact with Senior Police Officers to discuss the action the police are taking to deal with animal rights related crime.
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces are subject to key performance targets in relation to crimes committed by animal rights protesters. [175254]
Caroline Flint: There are no key performance targets in relation to crimes committed by animal rights protesters.
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether central Home Office records are maintained of individuals who are convicted of crimes associated with animal rights protests. [175255]
Caroline Flint: No central Home Office records are maintained of individuals who are convicted of crimes associated with animal rights protests.
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many areas have been made a designated public place for the purpose of curfew orders in each year since 2001 in (a) England and Wales and (b) in each county. [175257]
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Paul Goggins: The reference to designated public places for the purpose of curfew order since 2001 is taken to refer to local child curfew schemes, which were revised during that year. There have been no such designations for the purpose of a local child curfew scheme. The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 contains powers for the dispersal of groups and removal of persons under 16 to their homes. These powers were implemented in January 2004 and reports indicate they have already been used. Statistics are not yet available from the police on the use of these new powers but will be available later in the year.
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many curfew orders have been breached in each year since 1998; and how many of these breached curfew orders were punished by (a) fines and (b) prison sentences; [175258]
(2) how many curfew orders have been issued since 1998 in (a) England and Wales and (b) each county. [175259]
Paul Goggins: The information requested relating to England and Wales for the years 1998 to 2002 is contained in the table.
Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
(48) These data are on the principal offence basis
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Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make animal rights-related crimes a priority item in the next National Policing Plan. [175464]
Caroline Flint: No decisions have been made on the contents of the National Policing Plan for 2005–08.
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