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Hate Crime

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will amend legislation on hate crimes against (a) people with disabilities and (b) gay, lesbian and bisexual people to make it as extensive as that which applies to hate crimes on the grounds of race and religion; and if he will make a statement. [186890]

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Justice Act 2003 provides that where criminal offences are motivated by prejudice or hostility against the victim's sexual orientation or disability, as well as race or religion, the courts should treat this as an aggravating factor in sentencing.

This is to act as a deterrent and so help protect these groups from harassment and attack, as well as sending a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable in our society.

The Government work continuously to ensure that legislation meets the needs of society, and will continue to keep under review the protection offered to different groups.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Merseyside Police's Hate Crime Policy. [146244]

Ms Blears: Merseyside Police Hate Crime policy was originally produced as a result of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry in 1999. The policy offers procedural guidance in the identification of hate crime/incidents and the reporting, recording and investigation of such crime/
 
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incidents. The policy also includes information in respect of the third party reporting process and a self-reporting process.

The policy was formally launched in February 2003 and then internally reviewed in March 2004. The good practice contained within the policy has been recognised by several other forces, including the authors of the Association of Chief Police Officers hate crime policy. This policy has been created by Merseyside Police and is their responsibility.

Indymedia

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what (a) grounds and (b) legal authority the web servers of the news agency Indymedia were seized on 7 October. [193709]

Caroline Flint: I can only confirm that no UK law enforcement agencies were involved in the matter. I am not at liberty to discuss the specific case in more detail.

Knife Crimes

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of reported crimes were (a) injured and (b) killed by knives or other bladed weapons in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [193041]

Ms Blears: Information on victims of recorded crime injured by knives is not collected centrally. The British Crime Survey (BCS) collects information on the use of weapons in violent incidents, whether or not the incident was reported to the police.

The 2002–03 BCS estimates that weapons were used in 26 per cent. of violent incidents. A knife was used in 8 per cent. of violent incidents, and another type of stabbing implement was used in 2 per cent. of violent incidents (more than one type of weapon could be used in an incident). These figures were published in Crime in England and Wales 2002–03 Supplementary Tables: Nature of burglary, vehicle and violent crime, an internet only publication available at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0203_tables_bvv.html

However the use of a weapon does not necessarily mean that injuries were sustained as the weapon may have been used to threaten the victim. No data is available from the BCS on injuries caused by a weapon, only on injuries sustained in violent incidents generally.

Injuries were sustained in 50 per cent. of violent incidents in the 2003–04 BCS. Cuts were sustained in 14 per cent. of violent incidents where injury occurred (more than one type of injury could have occurred); however these were not necessarily caused by a weapon. These figures were published in Crime in England and Wales 2003–04.

Statistics on victims of homicide killed with a sharp instrument are published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest available figures were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 01/04, "Crime in England and Wales 2002–03: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime".
 
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For 2002–03, there were 272 currently recorded homicides where the method of killing involved a sharp instrument.

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to review (a) sentencing for and (b) provisions for deterrence of crimes using knives and other bladed weapons; and if he will make a statement. [193043]

Caroline Flint: We are conducting an analysis of the nature of knife related crime and actions which can and should be taken to tackle it. This includes examining the legislation and penalties to deal with the possession or use of knives and offensive weapons.

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a licensing system for owners of (a) swords, (b) machetes, (c) meat cleavers and (d) similar bladed instruments; and if he will make a statement. [193044]

Caroline Flint: Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 already prohibits the possession of an article with blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade not exceeding three inches.

We have no plans to introduce a licensing system for these weapons. Many of these items are used legitimately and such a move would penalise law-abiding people. Licensing would also be expensive to administer and would involve the police in considerable extra work, which inevitably will affect their other policing priorities.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will implement a ban on carrying all kinds of knife other than for professional use. [193068]

Caroline Flint: Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 already prohibits the possession of an article with blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade not exceeding three inches. It is a defence for a person to prove that the article is for use at work, for religious reasons or as part of a national costume.

This legislation is kept under constant review but there are no plans to introduce legislation to prevent the carrying of folding pocket knives.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to tackle the problem of assaults on children involving knives. [193070]

Caroline Flint: It is unacceptable for young people to carry knives and the Government take their responsibility for public safety in this area extremely seriously. There is a range of legislation and police powers in place aimed at preventing the possession or use of knives and offensive weapons and this is kept under constant review to ensure it is comprehensive and effective.

It is essential to educate young people about the dangers and consequences of becoming involved in criminality associated with weapon-carrying and the Home Office funds and operates a number of
 
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community-based initiatives aimed at encouraging good citizenship and turning vulnerable young people away from crime.

Leicestershire Police

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times he has met the Chief Constable of Leicestershire police since January. [194374]

Ms Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has met the Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary twice since January.

Metropolitan Police (Racism)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made by his Department in combating racism within the Metropolitan Police Force. [194156]

Ms Blears: The Government and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) remain committed to combating racism within the MPS.

The MPS has made significant progress in combating racism as an organisation. It has acted robustly around the recommendations from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report and continues to take a strong stance against any suggestion of racist behaviour.

The MPS were one of the first forces to adopt the new assessment procedures for police recruitment. The assessment centre tests candidates' attitudes to race and diversity at least seven times across the process, including at interview. Those who do not score sufficiently highly are not offered a job—irrespective of how well they do in the rest of the selection process.

Sir Bill Morris is currently chairing an inquiry into the conduct of the MPS in relation to: complaint, allegation and grievance matters, employment tribunal claims and the resolution of workplace conflicts. The MPS is not complacent and will continue to develop as an organisation in all fields of diversity and currently awaits the outcome of the Morris Inquiry as part of this development.

While the BBC programme "Secret Policeman" did not portray the MPS, the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis tasked Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur with undertaking a thorough review of practices within the MPS. The review made a number of recommendations that included issuing guidance on behaviour. In particular, recruits now sign a "Principles of Conduct" statement which clearly sets out the Met's expectations of individuals regarding their own and others' behaviour.

The MPS has also produced guidance for potential recruits and training school staff on appropriate behaviour, tolerance, respect and politeness. This puts a responsibility on new recruits and training school staff to eliminate and not tolerate racist behaviour.

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