| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
15 Nov 2004 : Column 1087W—continued
Drug Dealing (Bassetlaw)
12. John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests for drug dealing offences were made in Bassetlaw in the last three years for which figures are available. [197740]
Caroline Flint: Details of the number of arrests for drug dealing in Bassetlaw are not available.
International Students (Visas)
13 Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of increased visa extension charges on the number of applications by international students to study in the UK. [197741]
Mr. Browne: The Home Office has been conducting a review of charges for non-asylum immigration applications. We are currently consulting on new proposals to extend the principles of full cost recovery charging. The consultation document is available on the Home Office website and the deadline for responses is Wednesday 8 December 2004.
In addition, I have asked a joint project team—comprising representatives from the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office and the British Council—to produce an impact assessment. Work is currently underway to improve the evidence base and our understanding of the factors which influence international students' decisions to study in the UK.
The outcome of the consultation and this work will be made available in the new year.
Knife Offences
14. Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to undertake a review of the offence of carrying a knife without due cause. [197742]
Caroline Flint: The Crime Reduction Delivery Board has been tasked with undertaking a speedy review of action needed to tackle crime committed with knives. Legislative restrictions on knives and other pointed instruments forms part of that work. This will include the effectiveness of Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which creates an offence of possessing an article with blade or point in public without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket-knife with a blade not exceeding three inches.
Crime Reduction
15. Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact Local Police Teams are having on reducing crime. [197744]
Ms Blears:
We are committed to implement a neighbourhood policing approach in all forces by 2008. In those areas where neighbourhood policing is already in place, such as Merseyside, Surrey and parts of London, the presence of local teams is having a positive impact on reported crime levels.
15 Nov 2004 : Column 1088W
Immigration
16. Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on co-ordination of activity between the immigration and nationality directorate and local police forces on effective enforcement of immigration law. [197745]
Mr. Browne: The relationship is governed by a joint protocol between the Immigration Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers. Currently there are 111 police officers across the country, funded by the Immigration Service, dedicated to supporting immigration enforcement operations.
While the Immigration Service are responsible for operational deployment, and the identification and removal of immigration offenders, the police retain primacy for maintaining and increasing the trust and confidence of local communities, including the right to veto operations if necessary.
Operational detail is discussed and agreed at a local level to reflect the particular requirements of individual police forces and the needs of local communities.
Road Accidents
17. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to create an offence of failing to identify the driver of a vehicle involved in a road traffic accident. [197746]
Caroline Flint: The Government have no plans to introduce an offence of failing to identify the driver of a vehicle in a road traffic accident.
The key to unlocking cases where persons refuse to identify who was driving is through effective evidence gathering at the scene.
Charging two or more people could lead to convicting an innocent person as well as a guilty one.
Prisoners (Suicide)
18. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have committed suicide in the past 12 months; and how many were in safe cells. [197747]
Paul Goggins: In the 12 month period, 1 November 2003 to 31 October 2004, there were 107 apparently self-inflicted deaths of prisoners in English and Welsh prisons. Of these, one occurred in a safe cell.
Police Malpractice
19. Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Independent Police Complaint Commission's ability to (a) carry out and (b) oversee independent inquiries into complaints of police malpractice. [197748]
Ms Blears:
I am very pleased with the start made by the Independent Police Complaint Commission which has launched 17 independent investigations since it became operational on 1 April 2004. I have every confidence in them and I am satisfied that their funding
15 Nov 2004 : Column 1089W
for the first year, which has enabled them to recruit 72 independent investigative staff, is at an appropriate level.
Children (Exploitation)
20. Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to combat the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children within the UK; and if he will make a statement. [197749]
Paul Goggins: The Sexual Offences Act 2003, which came into force on 1 May, includes offences which criminalise trafficking into, within and out of the country for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The offences carry a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. The Act also introduces comprehensive offences covering the sexual exploitation of children.
These offences extend to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Prisoners (Skills Awards)
21. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work and basic skills awards have been made to prisoners in the last 12 months. [197750]
Paul Goggins: The number of skills awards made to prisoners for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004 were:
Identity Parades
22. Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the VIPER system for identity parades on police efficiency. [197752]
Ms Blears: We have continuously monitored the impact of video identification since its inception.
I am pleased to report that it has been an outstanding success and video identification systems now exist in all police forces in England and Wales.
The average time to conduct a parade has fallen from four and a half weeks to a matter of hours. The number of video identification parades is continuing to increase and is already three times the 2001–02 figure for live parades. In 2001–02, figure for live parades.
An average live parade cost £540 compared with £100 for a VIPER parade. This equate to a saving of £18.48 million in 2004–05.
Terrorism
23. Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals are detained on his order under anti-terrorist legislation. [197753]
Mr. Blunkett:
Using Part IV of the Anti Terrorism Crime and Security Act 17 non British nationals have been certified as being a terrorist risk.
15 Nov 2004 : Column 1090W
One of those is now being held under other powers; two have left the country; one has been judged, while having terrorist links, not to have associated with Al Qaeda so their appeal was upheld; one is being held under strict bail conditions; one has been released as no longer posing a serious threat; thus 12 remain in detention.
These powers have been used sparingly and remain necessary and proportionate to the threat that we face.
Parliament has always been kept informed by written ministerial statement where a certification has been made or revoked.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |