House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Jun 2005 (pt 30)

20 Jun 2005 : Column 771W—continued

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are subject to (a) internal investigations and (b) disciplinary proceedings; and if he will make a statement. [4662]

20 Jun 2005 : Column 772W

Hazel Blears: Information about the number of police officers subject to internal investigations and disciplinary proceedings is not held centrally by the Home Office. It could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the forms completed by the police following (a) the report of a criminal offence and (b) the arrest of a suspect. [2966]

Hazel Blears: A crime report form will be completed following every report of a criminal offence. Depending on the nature of the offence reported, a witness and/or victim statement will be taken at the beginning of the investigation.

For a person arrested and taken to the police station, a custody record will be completed in all cases. A custody record must be made under Section 37(4) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 by the custody officer for every person detained in a police station before charge. The content and number of entries will vary according to what happens to the detained person, the period of detention, the course of the investigation and the outcome.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines (a) his Department and (b) the Association of Chief Police Officers have issued to police forces on the destruction of (i) paper-based and (ii) computer-based files and crime reports; and if he will make a statement. [3045]

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not issue guidance on these matters. I understand that the following relevant guidelines have been issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO): General Rules for Criminal Record Weeding on Police Systems (issued November 2000); ACPO Data Protection Code of Practice (October 2002); Guidance on the Disposal and Retention of Police Records (November 2003). The Rules for Criminal Record Weeding are currently under active review and will be replaced by new Retention Guidelines.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attacks there have been on police officers in each of the last five years, broken down by police authority; how many people have been successfully prosecuted for carrying out such attacks; how many prosecutions are ongoing; and if he will make a statement. [4157]

Hazel Blears [holding answer 15 June 2005]: The available information relates to offences of assault on a constable. Table l gives the number of offences recorded by the police by police force area for 1999–2000 to 2003–04. Because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002, figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Table 2 gives the number of persons found guilty of such offences and covers the period 1999 to 2000.

Because recorded crime data relates to offences and court proceedings data relates to defendants, the two datasets are not directly comparable.

20 Jun 2005 : Column 773W

Table 1: Recorded offences of assault on a constable, England and Wales 1999–2000 to 2003–04 Number of offences

Police force area 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03⁽²⁰⁾ 2003–04

Avon and Somerset 305 312 319 405 534

Bedfordshire 258 210 241 343 313

Cambridgeshire 216 238 251 281 260

Cheshire 522 483 554 617 724

Cleveland 93 133 206 314 236

Cumbria 212 145 204 181 183

Derbyshire 610 571 634 848 399

Devon and Cornwall 628 646 646 671 430

Dorset 270 287 403 494 330

Durham 1,032 1,077 1,248 1,078 181

Dyfed-Powys 266 261 308 344 225

Essex 410 352 352 498 578

Gloucestershire 252 261 206 275 191

Greater Manchester 1,891 1,905 1,972 2,016 796

Gwent 530 641 505 595 316

Hampshire 578 636 688 976 1,008

Hertfordshire 257 304 387 449 702

Humberside 523 509 538 754 439

Kent 722 620 635 851 755

Lancashire 973 1,239 1,366 1,536 814

Leicestershire 213 315 337 447 432

Lincolnshire 223 178 218 281 160

London, City of 37 30 39 45 34

Merseyside 1,237 1,429 1,361 1,651 979

Metropolitan police 1,401 1,367 1,269 1,908 2,796

Norfolk 457 405 439 549 444

Northamptonshire 392 331 305 353 305

Northumbria 1,018 1,171 1,176 1,608 588

North Wales 298 445 434 550 246

North Yorkshire 508 426 449 582 274

Nottinghamshire 433 477 543 452 509

South Wales 720 868 893 1032 700

South Yorkshire 756 923 785 689 434

Staffordshire 690 748 661 792 525

Suffolk 245 255 297 362 321

Surrey 209 266 223 288 413

Sussex 760 891 1,120 1,089 625

Thames Valley 826 802 1,254 1,527 709

Warwickshire 286 258 259 310 233

West Mercia 640 587 768 845 523

West Midlands 2,606 3,234 3,811 2,817 360

West Yorkshire 1,388 1,488 1,503 1,695 634

Wiltshire 224 276 288 345 269

Total 26,115 28,000 30,095 33,743 21,927

⁽²⁰⁾The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2005. Because of this, figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Table 2: Defendants found guilty at all courts for assault on a constable⁽²¹⁾, by police force area—England and Wales, 1999–2003⁽²²⁾ Number

Police force area 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Avon and Somerset 158 172 208 174 257

Bedfordshire 57 54 52 59 88

Cambridgeshire 75 71 72 74 88

Cheshire 110 112 103 101 137

City of London 6 8 9 10 11

Cleveland 39 42 59 64 90

Cumbria 68 53 59 55 91

Derbyshire 148 124 122 140 181

Devon and Cornwall 206 202 197 191 236

Dorset 56 79 67 96 111

Durham 105 110 119 117 105

Essex 120 129 124 179 222

Gloucestershire 90 85 83 71 66

Greater Manchester 298 309 292 302 371

Hampshire 293 262 239 303 386

Hertfordshire 78 75 87 101 159

Humberside 111 122 85 116 143

Kent 223 217 180 228 281

Lancashire 243 246 243 263 257

Leicestershire 105 108 117 113 157

Lincolnshire 39 46 75 68 66

Merseyside 156 181 200 206 290

Metropolitan police 737 755 682 778 1,054

Norfolk 120 94 128 121 130

North Yorkshire 76 73 61 80 86

Northamptonshire 74 81 52 54 72

Northumbria 205 233 233 200 250

Nottinghamshire 147 142 144 120 128

South Yorkshire 118 131 134 130 175

Staffordshire⁽²³⁾ 151 124 130 147

Suffolk 58 60 65 84 117

Surrey 69 83 78 100 113

Sussex 152 160 169 164 192

Thames Valley 121 114 105 124 126

Warwickshire 44 51 59 54 54

West Mercia 140 131 145 134 156

West Midlands 351 345 413 442 425

West Yorkshire 160 161 131 154 210

Wiltshire 92 66 78 66 115

Dyfed-Powys 102 90 104 92 82

Gwent 146 152 126 133 110

North Wales 97 79 79 79 96

South Wales 173 197 201 238 253

Total 6,117 6,152 6,103 6,508 7,884

⁽²¹⁾Offence includes assault on a constable under the Police Act 1996 Sec. 89(1) as well as offences against similar provisions in local acts.
⁽²²⁾These data are on a principal offence basis.
⁽²³⁾Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

20 Jun 2005 : Column 775W

Police force area	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03⁽²⁰⁾	2003–04
Avon and Somerset	305	312	319	405	534
Bedfordshire	258	210	241	343	313
Cambridgeshire	216	238	251	281	260
Cheshire	522	483	554	617	724
Cleveland	93	133	206	314	236
Cumbria	212	145	204	181	183
Derbyshire	610	571	634	848	399
Devon and Cornwall	628	646	646	671	430
Dorset	270	287	403	494	330
Durham	1,032	1,077	1,248	1,078	181
Dyfed-Powys	266	261	308	344	225
Essex	410	352	352	498	578
Gloucestershire	252	261	206	275	191
Greater Manchester	1,891	1,905	1,972	2,016	796
Gwent	530	641	505	595	316
Hampshire	578	636	688	976	1,008
Hertfordshire	257	304	387	449	702
Humberside	523	509	538	754	439
Kent	722	620	635	851	755
Lancashire	973	1,239	1,366	1,536	814
Leicestershire	213	315	337	447	432
Lincolnshire	223	178	218	281	160
London, City of	37	30	39	45	34
Merseyside	1,237	1,429	1,361	1,651	979
Metropolitan police	1,401	1,367	1,269	1,908	2,796
Norfolk	457	405	439	549	444
Northamptonshire	392	331	305	353	305
Northumbria	1,018	1,171	1,176	1,608	588
North Wales	298	445	434	550	246
North Yorkshire	508	426	449	582	274
Nottinghamshire	433	477	543	452	509
South Wales	720	868	893	1032	700
South Yorkshire	756	923	785	689	434
Staffordshire	690	748	661	792	525
Suffolk	245	255	297	362	321
Surrey	209	266	223	288	413
Sussex	760	891	1,120	1,089	625
Thames Valley	826	802	1,254	1,527	709
Warwickshire	286	258	259	310	233
West Mercia	640	587	768	845	523
West Midlands	2,606	3,234	3,811	2,817	360
West Yorkshire	1,388	1,488	1,503	1,695	634
Wiltshire	224	276	288	345	269
Total	26,115	28,000	30,095	33,743	21,927

Police force area	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Avon and Somerset	158	172	208	174	257
Bedfordshire	57	54	52	59	88
Cambridgeshire	75	71	72	74	88
Cheshire	110	112	103	101	137
City of London	6	8	9	10	11
Cleveland	39	42	59	64	90
Cumbria	68	53	59	55	91
Derbyshire	148	124	122	140	181
Devon and Cornwall	206	202	197	191	236
Dorset	56	79	67	96	111
Durham	105	110	119	117	105
Essex	120	129	124	179	222
Gloucestershire	90	85	83	71	66
Greater Manchester	298	309	292	302	371
Hampshire	293	262	239	303	386
Hertfordshire	78	75	87	101	159
Humberside	111	122	85	116	143
Kent	223	217	180	228	281
Lancashire	243	246	243	263	257
Leicestershire	105	108	117	113	157
Lincolnshire	39	46	75	68	66
Merseyside	156	181	200	206	290
Metropolitan police	737	755	682	778	1,054
Norfolk	120	94	128	121	130
North Yorkshire	76	73	61	80	86
Northamptonshire	74	81	52	54	72
Northumbria	205	233	233	200	250
Nottinghamshire	147	142	144	120	128
South Yorkshire	118	131	134	130	175
Staffordshire⁽²³⁾	151		124	130	147
Suffolk	58	60	65	84	117
Surrey	69	83	78	100	113
Sussex	152	160	169	164	192
Thames Valley	121	114	105	124	126
Warwickshire	44	51	59	54	54
West Mercia	140	131	145	134	156
West Midlands	351	345	413	442	425
West Yorkshire	160	161	131	154	210
Wiltshire	92	66	78	66	115
Dyfed-Powys	102	90	104	92	82
Gwent	146	152	126	133	110
North Wales	97	79	79	79	96
South Wales	173	197	201	238	253
Total	6,117	6,152	6,103	6,508	7,884

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure West Mercia police force continues to patrol the parish of Pontesbury, Shropshire. [2793]

Hazel Blears: The deployment of patrolling officers is an operational matter for the chief constable of West Mercia police force.

The Government support visible and accessible policing and have made a commitment that by 2008, every area in England and Wales will benefit from dedicated neighbourhood policing teams. These teams will provide a responsive police presence in rural and urban areas.

20 Jun 2005 : Column 776W

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal accidents involving police service vehicles there were in each year since 1995, broken down by police authority; and if he will make a statement. [2892]

Hazel Blears: Figures for road traffic collisions are currently available from 2002–03.

The available information for the numbers of casualties and degree of injury from road traffic collisions resulting from immediate/emergency response and police pursuits on public roads involving all police forces in England and Wales is provided in the table.
Degree of injury from road traffic collisions involving all Police forces in England and Wales

2002–03
2003–04

Police force area Fatal injury Serious injury Other injury Total Fatal injury Serious injury Other injury Total

Avon and Somerset 2 7 53 62 2 6 74 82

Bedfordshire 0 2 16 18 1 1 56 58

Cambridgeshire 0 6 6 12 0 4 12 16

Cheshire 0 2 27 29 0 1 17 18

Cleveland 0 0 18 18 1 0 3 4

Cumbria 0 0 8 8 0 0 5 5

Derbyshire 0 0 38 38 0 1 25 26

Devon and Cornwall 0 1 26 27 1 1 64 66

Dorset 0 1 10 11 1 2 9 12

Durham ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 2 1 36 39

Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Essex 0 2 32 34 2 3 36 41

Gloucestershire 0 0 24 24 0 0 4 4

Greater Manchester 4 5 74 83 6 9 56 71

Gwent 0 0 12 12 0 0 24 24

Hampshire 1 7 29 37 0 3 7 10

Hertfordshire 0 6 59 65 0 2 16 18

Humberside 0 3 19 22 0 1 25 26

Kent 0 2 48 50 0 7 73 80

Lancashire 0 1 31 32 0 2 30 32

Leicestershire 1 2 15 18 0 2 16 18

Lincolnshire 0 2 10 12 0 5 18 23

London, City of 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2

Merseyside 3 3 62 68 3 6 75 84

Metropolitan Police 5 14 63 82 4 21 600 625

Norfolk 1 1 17 19 1 1 28 30

Northamptonshire 0 1 14 15 1 6 19 26

Northumbria 0 3 62 65 0 3 70 73

North Wales 0 0 18 18 0 1 5 6

North Yorkshire ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 0 0 0 0

Nottinghamshire 2 5 8 15 1 8 57 66

South Wales 0 0 20 20 0 0 9 9

South Yorkshire 0 3 24 27 0 12 67 79

Staffordshire 0 0 26 26 0 1 29 30

Suffolk 0 1 6 7 0 3 11 14

Surrey 0 2 38 40 1 2 33 36

Sussex 0 7 45 52 0 6 27 33

Thames Valley 3 13 115 131 2 11 122 135

Warwickshire 0 0 5 5 0 1 10 11

West Mercia 0 4 30 34 0 2 22 24

West Midlands ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 2 2 44 48

West Yorkshire 0 0 15 15 0 0 7 7

Wiltshire 0 0 8 8 0 0 4 4

Total 22 106 1,131 1,259 31 138 1,846 2,015

⁽²⁴⁾Data is not available in 2003–04

20 Jun 2005 : Column 777W

	2002–03	2003–04
Police force area	Fatal injury	Serious injury	Other injury	Total	Fatal injury	Serious injury	Other injury	Total
Avon and Somerset	2	7	53	62	2	6	74	82
Bedfordshire	0	2	16	18	1	1	56	58
Cambridgeshire	0	6	6	12	0	4	12	16
Cheshire	0	2	27	29	0	1	17	18
Cleveland	0	0	18	18	1	0	3	4
Cumbria	0	0	8	8	0	0	5	5
Derbyshire	0	0	38	38	0	1	25	26
Devon and Cornwall	0	1	26	27	1	1	64	66
Dorset	0	1	10	11	1	2	9	12
Durham	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	2	1	36	39
Dyfed-Powys	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Essex	0	2	32	34	2	3	36	41
Gloucestershire	0	0	24	24	0	0	4	4
Greater Manchester	4	5	74	83	6	9	56	71
Gwent	0	0	12	12	0	0	24	24
Hampshire	1	7	29	37	0	3	7	10
Hertfordshire	0	6	59	65	0	2	16	18
Humberside	0	3	19	22	0	1	25	26
Kent	0	2	48	50	0	7	73	80
Lancashire	0	1	31	32	0	2	30	32
Leicestershire	1	2	15	18	0	2	16	18
Lincolnshire	0	2	10	12	0	5	18	23
London, City of	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
Merseyside	3	3	62	68	3	6	75	84
Metropolitan Police	5	14	63	82	4	21	600	625
Norfolk	1	1	17	19	1	1	28	30
Northamptonshire	0	1	14	15	1	6	19	26
Northumbria	0	3	62	65	0	3	70	73
North Wales	0	0	18	18	0	1	5	6
North Yorkshire	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	0	0	0	0
Nottinghamshire	2	5	8	15	1	8	57	66
South Wales	0	0	20	20	0	0	9	9
South Yorkshire	0	3	24	27	0	12	67	79
Staffordshire	0	0	26	26	0	1	29	30
Suffolk	0	1	6	7	0	3	11	14
Surrey	0	2	38	40	1	2	33	36
Sussex	0	7	45	52	0	6	27	33
Thames Valley	3	13	115	131	2	11	122	135
Warwickshire	0	0	5	5	0	1	10	11
West Mercia	0	4	30	34	0	2	22	24
West Midlands	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	2	2	44	48
West Yorkshire	0	0	15	15	0	0	7	7
Wiltshire	0	0	8	8	0	0	4	4
Total	22	106	1,131	1,259	31	138	1,846	2,015

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had regarding the future of the Bruche police training centre; and what decisions have been made about the future of the centre. [1131]

Hazel Blears [holding answer 26 May 2005]: The Bruche police training centre is the property of the Central Police Training and Development Agency (Centrex) and, as such, its future is the responsibility of the Centrex board and the organisation's chief executive, Norman Bettison.

Centrex are in the process of reviewing and producing an updated version of their estates strategy.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police patrol vehicles, (b) police vans, (c) unmarked police vehicles and (d) other police vehicles are available in each London borough; and if he will make a statement. [2895]

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

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