House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Dec 2004 (pt 7)

21 Dec 2004 : Column 1545W—continued

Roma

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in constructing a national action plan for the UK contribution to the European Union Decade of Roma Inclusion; and what consultation he has conducted with Gypsy and Traveller groups. [205310]

Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.

The Decade of Roma Inclusion is an initiative involving eight states in central and south-east Europe with the objective of speeding up and improving the social inclusion and the economic status of the Roma in those countries. The United Kingdom is not a participant.

However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister continues to consult Gypsies and Travellers and their stakeholder groups on a range of important issues, including the planning system, appropriate accommodation and other matters.

Drug-Related Crimes (Lincolnshire)

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes committed in Lincolnshire have been drug-related in each year since 1997. [204791]

Ms Blears: Information on drug related offences is not collected centrally for recorded crime. The available information relates to recorded drug offences. Statistics for the Lincolnshire police force area are given in the following tables.

21 Dec 2004 : Column 1546W

Table 1: Recorded drug offences in Lincolnshire—1997–98 to 2001–02⁽⁸⁾

Period Total Trafficking Possession Other drug offences

1997 235 235 ⁽⁹⁾— ⁽⁹⁾—

1998–99⁽¹⁰⁾ 1,229 159 1,050 20

1999–2000 975 151 814 10

2000–01 906 128 772 6

2001–02 1,116 169 942 5

⁽⁸⁾ The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
⁽⁹⁾ Not available.
⁽¹⁰⁾ Figures using the expanded coverage and revised rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.

Table 2: Recorded drug offences in Lincolnshire—2002–03 and 2003–04⁽¹¹⁾

Period

2002–03 2003–04

Total 1,060 1,061

Trafficking 161 220

Possession 894 836

Other drug offences 5 5

⁽¹¹⁾ The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Period	Total	Trafficking	Possession	Other drug offences
1997	235	235	⁽⁹⁾—	⁽⁹⁾—
1998–99⁽¹⁰⁾	1,229	159	1,050	20
1999–2000	975	151	814	10
2000–01	906	128	772	6
2001–02	1,116	169	942	5

	Period
	2002–03	2003–04
Total	1,060	1,061
Trafficking	161	220
Possession	894	836
Other drug offences	5	5

Citizenship Education

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that schools include information about the criminal justice system as part of citizenship education. [206149]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: I have been asked to reply.

Understanding the role and operation of the criminal and civil justice system in our democracy is an important part of citizenship education. Pupils learn about the work of the courts, Parliament and the Government in making and shaping the law. Detailed guidance sent to all schools by the QCA includes specific units to help teachers to develop pupils' understanding of these issues. For example, the unit "How do rules and laws affect me?" helps pupils in KS 1 and 2 (ages 5–10) to discuss and learn about how laws are made in a democracy. Other units for pupils in KS3 (ages 11–14) and KS4 (ages 14–16) build on what they have learned in primary schools by looking at how laws are enforced, how crime affects young people, victims of crime and their communities.

Exclusion Orders

Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exclusion orders from licensed premises have been granted in England in each of the last 10 years. [201824]

Ms Blears: The information on the number of exclusion orders granted under the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980 is not collected centrally.

Fireworks

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firework-related

21 Dec 2004 : Column 1547W

complaints there were to the police in (a) 2004 and (b) 2003 in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Wales and (iii) the South Wales Police Force area. [203899]

Ms Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Knife Crime

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife crimes took place in each (a) month and (b) year since 1997, broken down by police authority; and how many resulted in (i) fatal injury, (ii) serious injury and (iii) minor injury in each case. [205356]

Ms Blears: The number of offences involving knives is not separated out in the recorded crime statistics. Therefore no information is available on knife offences causing serious or minor injury. The Homicide Index holds details on the number of homicides where the

21 Dec 2004 : Column 1548W

apparent method of killing was the use of a sharp instrument. The available information from 1997–98 to 2002–03 is given in the following table. This information is not published at police force area level.
Homicides involving the use of a sharp instrument

Number

1997–98 202

1998–99 202

1999–2000 213

2000–01 214

2001–02 262

2002–03 272

	Number
1997–98	202
1998–99	202
1999–2000	213
2000–01	214
2001–02	262
2002–03	272

Lancashire Police

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in funding of Lancashire police in each year since 1997. [205070]

Ms Blears: The information is set out in the table.

General government grants⁽¹²⁾ Annual percentage change in general government grants Specific grants and capital provision⁽¹³⁾ Council tax precept

£ million Percentage £ million Percentage

1997–98 146.9 — 2.2 22.9

1998–99 153.6 4.6 2.4 23.1

1999–2000 155.9 1.5 2.2 25.2

2000–01 162.2 4.0 6.6 27.6

2001–02 168.1 3.6 18.2 30.2

2001–02⁽¹⁴⁾ 164.0 — 18.2 30.2

2002–03 168.7 2.9 15.1 33.1

2003–04 177.1 4.9 15.4 39.6

2004–05 182.9 3.3 15.8 45.9

2005–06⁽¹⁵⁾ 190.8 4.3 N/A N/A

⁽¹²⁾ General Government grants comprise Home Office Police Grant, ODPM Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates.
⁽¹³⁾ Includes funding from the Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Basic Command Unit funding, Street Crime Initiative, Community Support Officer funding, Special Priority Payments, the DNA Expansion Programme, capital grant, Airwave and the Premises Improvement Fund. Total for specific grants in 2004–05 are an estimate.
⁽¹⁴⁾ Figures for 2001–02 are not directly comparable with 2002–03 due to the change in funding arrangements of NCS/NCIS. Adjusted figures for 2001–02 are therefore included.
⁽¹⁵⁾ The provisional police funding settlement for 2005–06 was announced on 2 December. Full specific grant allocations and capital provision for 2005–06 are not yet available.

	General government grants⁽¹²⁾	Annual percentage change in general government grants	Specific grants and capital provision⁽¹³⁾	Council tax precept
	£ million	Percentage	£ million	Percentage
1997–98	146.9	—	2.2	22.9
1998–99	153.6	4.6	2.4	23.1
1999–2000	155.9	1.5	2.2	25.2
2000–01	162.2	4.0	6.6	27.6
2001–02	168.1	3.6	18.2	30.2
2001–02⁽¹⁴⁾	164.0	—	18.2	30.2
2002–03	168.7	2.9	15.1	33.1
2003–04	177.1	4.9	15.4	39.6
2004–05	182.9	3.3	15.8	45.9
2005–06⁽¹⁵⁾	190.8	4.3	N/A	N/A

Lincolnshire Police Force

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) police civilian staff the Lincolnshire police force has had in each year since 1997. [204793]

Ms Blears: The information requested is set out in the table. Between March 1997 and August 2004 police officer numbers increased by 15 and police (support) staff numbers increased by 132. At the end of September Lincolnshire police had 44 Community Support Officers.
Lincolnshire police

As at 31 March: Number of police officers Number of police (support) staff

1997 1,196 521

1998 1,191 541

1999 1,140 517

2000 1,115 516

2001 1,202 561

2002 1,198 600

2003 1,221 637

2004 1,228 653

2004 (31 August) 1,211 n/a

As at 31 March:	Number of police officers	Number of police (support) staff
1997	1,196	521
1998	1,191	541
1999	1,140	517
2000	1,115	516
2001	1,202	561
2002	1,198	600
2003	1,221	637
2004	1,228	653
2004 (31 August)	1,211	n/a

Police numbers can fluctuate because of differences between a force's wastage and recruitment cycles. The force aims to maintain police strength at March 2004 levels.

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences have been recorded by Lincolnshire Police Force in each year since 1995, broken down by category. [204796]

Ms Blears: The information requested is given in the tables.

21 Dec 2004 : Column 1549W

Table 1: Recorded offences in Lincolnshire—1995 to 2001–02⁽¹⁶⁾

Period Total Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery Burglary

1995 48,015 2,514 367 128 12,243

1996 47,069 2,701 293 138 12,891

1997 43,381 3,051 329 107 10,551

1998–99⁽¹⁷⁾ 46,670 4,239 393 149 10,257

1999–2000 46,170 3,866 325 178 10,719

2000–01 44,884 3,743 281 191 9,583

2001–02 49,797 4,812 414 251 9,592

Period Theft and handling stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences Other

1995 22,774 1,163 8,138 219 469

1996 21,085 1,148 8,289 185 411

1997 20,085 1,382 7,145 235 496

1998–99⁽¹⁷⁾ 19,328 2,723 7,728 1,229 624

1999–2000 19,551 1,641 8,391 975 524

2000–01 18,938 1,662 9,078 906 502

2001–02 19,728 1,968 11,282 1,116 634

⁽¹⁶⁾ The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
⁽¹⁷⁾ Figures using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.

Table 2: Recorded offences in Lincolnshire—2002–03 and 2003–04⁽¹⁸⁾

Period

2002–03 2003–04

Total 61,949 60,377

Violence against the person 9,238 10,148

Sexual offences 583 636

Robbery 307 304

Burglary 10,831 9,052

Theft and handling stolen goods 22,745 20,665

Fraud and forgery 2,580 2,320

Criminal damage 13,694 15,176

Drug offences 1,060 1,061

Other 911 1,015

⁽¹⁸⁾ The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Period	Total	Violence against the person	Sexual offences	Robbery	Burglary
1995	48,015	2,514	367	128	12,243
1996	47,069	2,701	293	138	12,891
1997	43,381	3,051	329	107	10,551
1998–99⁽¹⁷⁾	46,670	4,239	393	149	10,257
1999–2000	46,170	3,866	325	178	10,719
2000–01	44,884	3,743	281	191	9,583
2001–02	49,797	4,812	414	251	9,592

Period	Theft and handling stolen goods	Fraud and forgery	Criminal damage	Drug offences	Other
1995	22,774	1,163	8,138	219	469
1996	21,085	1,148	8,289	185	411
1997	20,085	1,382	7,145	235	496
1998–99⁽¹⁷⁾	19,328	2,723	7,728	1,229	624
1999–2000	19,551	1,641	8,391	975	524
2000–01	18,938	1,662	9,078	906	502
2001–02	19,728	1,968	11,282	1,116	634

	Period
	2002–03	2003–04
Total	61,949	60,377
Violence against the person	9,238	10,148
Sexual offences	583	636
Robbery	307	304
Burglary	10,831	9,052
Theft and handling stolen goods	22,745	20,665
Fraud and forgery	2,580	2,320
Criminal damage	13,694	15,176
Drug offences	1,060	1,061
Other	911	1,015

Next Section

Index

Home Page