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Community Sentencing

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what measures he plans to introduce to improve the success rate of community sentencing; [182289]

(2) if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of non-custodial sentences. [191683]

Paul Goggins: Community sentences must be effective and must command the confidence of sentencers and of the general public. Work to strengthen them is continuous and ongoing.

The establishment of the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel, which accredits programmes and interventions to ensure they are based on the best available evidence on what works in reducing re-offending, has been an important step in ensuring
 
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community sentences are effective. The Panel's work is now reflected in legislation that offers such programmes as conditions in court orders.

There is an ongoing focus on improving and sustaining the quality of delivery. For example, the enforcement of community orders continues to improve with 84 per cent. of all breach action being taken within the 10 days required by the probation national standards, compared with 52 per cent. in 2001.

Work on performance improvement in the delivery of programmes continues to yield improvements in referral, commencement and completion. The percentage of offenders completing offending behaviour programmes has risen from 37 per cent. in 2001–02 to around 60 per cent. in the current financial year. Completion rates for some programmes are much higher, for example 89 per cent. of offenders complete the Drink Impaired Drivers programme.

It is more difficult to secure compliance where offenders have multiple problems and chaotic lives but the completion rate for Drug Treatment and Testing Orders is rising. There is an ongoing programme of monitoring and improvement, backed by rigorous enforcement to try to increase the number of offenders who complete orders successfully.

The probation service has also increased the number of interventions that assist offenders to increase their skills and improve their chances of finding work. Almost 15,000 offenders started basic skills courses last year and in the first five months of this financial year alone 14,249 offenders have completed enhanced community punishment (ECP) orders. This is against a target of 30,000 completions for the year.

This Government has introduced intensive new penalties such as the Intensive Change and Control Programme (ICCP). The ICCP is an intensive community sentence for 18 to 20 year olds. It is currently being delivered in 17 probation areas. ICCP provides a tightly structured routine that includes intensive interventions, electronically monitored curfews and police surveillance.

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduces the Community Order which will give judges and magistrates greater flexibility to tailor sentences to the circumstances of the individual offender.

The new National Offender Management Service will provide the right organisational context to ensure that the Community Order has maximum impact. The Community Order will be implemented next spring.

Underpinning these developments is the Offender Assessment System (OASys) which enables probation staff to identify the risks posed by offenders and the criminogenic factors (such as drug misuse or antisocial attitudes) that need to be tackled to reduce the likelihood of further offending.

Crime Detection (North of England)

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on crime detection rates in the North of England. [191289]

 
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Ms Blears: The Detection rate for the north of England, comprising eight forces in the North West and North East regions, stood at 26 per cent. for 2003–04. This is the same as the equivalent figure for the previous year. This figure compares favourably with the national average detection rate of 23 per cent.

There is a recognition that there is a need to improve performance in investigating crime and achieving a higher rate of detections is part of that programme. A series of steps are being taken by the Home Office, in conjunction with other police stakeholders, to raise the detection rates of all forces in England and Wales.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the fall in the crime detection rates in (a) Durham and (b) Northumbria. [191290]

Ms Blears: Northumbria's detection rate for the financial year 2003–04 was 31 per cent., a one per cent. decline on the previous year. Durham's detection rate in 2003–04 was 29 per cent. declining from 34 per cent. in the previous year.

Performance of Police forces in England and Wales is assessed by comparison with forces that have similar environments to be policed. These are known as Most Similar Forces.

The performance of both Durham and Northumbria is above their Most Similar Force averages. The percentage of offences brought to justice (convicted) actually increased in both forces in 2003–04 suggesting that the proportion of detected offences that are ultimately converted into an OBTJ has increased.

There has been a fall in detection rates nationally, however changes in counting rules for detections and crimes have contributed to this.

We are in the process of a nation-wide drive to improve performance in investigating crime and the Government is taking steps across the country to secure performance improvements in the detection rates of all forces.

Doorstep Selling and Cold Calling

Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department will be responding to the Department for Trade and Industry consultation on doorstep selling and cold calling. [189712]

Ms Blears: We will not be responding separately as part of the consultation process.

The Home Office has worked closely with the Department of Trade and Industry during the drafting of the consultation document and issues of interest to the Home Office were included at that time.

Once the consultation period has closed, the Government as a whole will consider the views of the respondents and reach a decision.

Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to achieve a cross-departmental approach to combat crime and unscrupulous trading associated with doorstep cold calling. [189737]

 
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Ms Blears: The Distraction Burglary Task Force, in its Good Practice Guide published in 2001, identified the need for a cross-departmental and multi-agency approach to tackling this crime. We have been consistently promoting this at the local level.

We have also been implementing this approach through the Task Force itself, which contains representatives of various key stakeholders including the police, trading standards and the voluntary sector. The Home Office has also held discussions relating to distraction burglary with both the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Health.

In addition, my hon. Friend—the Minister for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers (Fiona Mactaggart) has proposed a cross-departmental ministerial group to enable us to build on our strong joint working to date.

Long Baton

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training police officers are given on the use of the long baton; and what instructions they are given regarding striking people on the head. [192692]

Ms Blears: Recruits to the police service receive between two hours and five hours training in the use of batons during the course of their initial training. The time varies according to where the training takes place and the type of baton used. Under Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines, officers should subsequently undergo a minimum of 12 hours a year personal safety refresher training, which includes the use of batons.

Officers are made aware of the medical implications of striking any part of the body and should take these into account, together with their legal powers, when considering the use of force. Use of force by police officers must be reasonable and within the law.

Mr. Ghazi Kassim

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implications for (a) security and (b) police management following the conviction of Mr.Ghazi Kassim. [190519]

Mr. Blunkett: The circumstances surrounding this case are a matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. There are no wider implications for the national security of the UK.

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