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31 Jan 2005 : Column 681W—continued
Crime Statistics
18. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of (a) the number of recorded crimes in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Greater London in 2010 and (b) the percentage of each that will be cleared up in that year. [211511]
Ms Blears: Recorded crime is not forecast beyond 2008; nor are estimates of the percentage cleared up made.
However, crime forecasts were produced for the period 2003–04 to 2007–08 and included in the modelling work for the Home Office Strategic Plan.
19. John Mann To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an assessment of trends in the level of acquisitive crimes in west Bassetlaw. [211512]
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Caroline Flint: The available information relates to the Bassetlaw Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and shows that between 2002–03 and 2003–04 there was a fall in all acquisitive crime of 244 offences or 4 per cent.
Race Equality/Community Cohesion
20. Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's strategy for race equality and community cohesion. [211513]
Mr. Clarke: I published Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society", our race equality and community cohesion strategy, on 19 January. The aim of the strategy is to deliver a cohesive society built on opportunities for all, establishing mutual expectations of all citizens and tackling hatred and discrimination.
This is not about putting all people from minority ethnic communities in one category and those from the majority in another. Rather, it is about identifying and responding to the specific needs of different communities.
The strategy is not rhetoric. It is focused on practical action and measurement, with a comprehensive cross-Government Public Service Agreement target to monitor and reduce race inequalities between 2005 and 2008.
Traffic Police
21. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) responsibilities he has allocated and (b) directives he has issued to traffic police. [211514]
Ms Blears: All police officers, including those dedicated to traffic duties have the same powers. Their deployment and operational practice is a matter for individual chief officers. The first three National Policing Plans make it clear that we expect the police to give roads policing appropriate attention and we have built on this by the Roads Policing Strategy statement issued jointly earlier this month by the Home Office, the Department for Transport and the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Anti-terrorism Legislation
22. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions his Department has had with Muslim leaders in the UK regarding anti-terrorism legislation. [211515]
Mr. Clarke: I and other Ministers have met representatives of the Muslim communities, including the Muslim Council of Great Britain, on several occasions to discuss their concerns. They have also met with officials in the Home Office and relevant officers in the police service.
Representatives of the Muslim communities have also played an active part in Counter Terrorism Powers: Reconciling Security and Liberty in an Open Society"—the consultation process on the Government's counter-terrorism powers, both by submitting written responses and in attending public consultation events.
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Driving (Mobile Telephones)
23. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with chief constables regarding the deployment of officers to enforce the law relating to driving while using hand-held mobile telephones. [211517]
Caroline Flint: It is for chief officers to decide how most effectively to deploy their resources in accordance with local and strategic plans and the National Policing Plan. We have not specifically discussed this issue with them. The Association of Chief Police Officers has welcomed the new specific offence as a straightforward method of dealing with this dangerous behaviour and the police will enforce the offence as operationally appropriate.
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for driving while using a hand-held mobile phone since the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2003 came into force; what the Government are doing to enforce legislation in this area; and if he will make a statement. [210928]
Ms Blears: Data for 2003 on police actions (written warnings, fixed penalty notices and court proceedings) related to the new offence of driving while using a hand held mobile telephone will not be available until late March 2005.
Antisocial Behaviour
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage liaison between the different authorities and bodies with a role in reducing antisocial behaviour. [210759]
Ms Blears: The Government recognises that partnership working at a local level is the key to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour effectively. We are supporting agencies to identify and deliver local solutions to local problems by working together within the Crime and Disorder Partnership framework.
Our TOGETHER campaign, which targets a wide range of practitioners, actively promotes partnership working and offers practical assistance that can help local agencies to work together in delivering effective interventions.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the antisocial behaviour help line and report line. [210730]
Ms Blears: 'It's Your Call' is part of the next step of the TOGETHER campaign. This initiative is part of the commitment made by Action Areas to raise levels of action and to make services more accessible to the public. Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland are the first areas in the country to go live with the new 'It's Your Call' phone line. The service will be launched in 21 additional TOGETHER Action Areas and Trailblazers in a phased approach over the next six weeks.
A new single number 0845 605 222, encouraging people to report antisocial behaviour, will be promoted on poster sites and on phone boxes in participating areas. Running in parallel, two million door-drops
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highlighting the new service will be distributed, and postcards giving feedback when action has been taken will also be utilised by the participating areas.
The TOGETHER ActionLine is a separate service which provides help and advice to practitioners to improve their response to antisocial behaviour. The ActionLine, complimented by the TOGETHER website helps practitioners to become confident in using the powers available to them and gives them access to innovative and creative solutions and enable them to network and share knowledge and successes.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the use of antisocial behaviour orders. [211510]
Ms Blears: We constantly review issues relating to the use of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) through our contact with local practitioners.
We produce a range of quarterly statistics that allow us to assess the use of ASBOs, and data on breach of ASBOs are produced annually.
A major research project is under way to evaluate the impact of ASBOs on communities.
Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in the Tees Valley, broken down by constituency. [210614]
Ms Blears: Available information, up to 30 June 2004, by local authority area only is given in the table.
Data up to 30 September 2004 will be available shortly.
(46)Tees Valley region comprises the five following local authority areas: Darlington BC, Hartlepool BC, Middlesbrough BC, Redcar and Cleveland Council and Stockton on Tees BC.
Note:
Between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000 data available by police force area (pfa) only.
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Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what personal details of the recipients of antisocial behaviour orders are recorded. [210733]
Ms Blears: The following personal details of recipients of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are recorded on the Home Office ASBO Database: full name, age/date of birth and sex.
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