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12 Sept 2005 : Column 2582W—continued
European Public Prosecutor
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement, in the context of the European Enforcement Order as set out in 2005/C 150/01 of Official Journal C150, vol 48, of 21 June 2005, Article seven, on the development of the European Public Prosecutor [15906]
Paul Goggins: The draft Framework Decision on the European Enforcement Order has no implications for the development of a European Public Prosecutor (EPP). Any proposal for the development of an EPP remains subject to ratification of the Constitutional Treaty and the unanimous agreement of the member states. We remain unconvinced that the creation of an EPP is necessary or desirable.
Explosives Detection Systems
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the likely role of new generation terahertz scanners in detecting potential bomb attacks. [15411]
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Hazel Blears: The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (formerly the Police Scientific Development Branch) has been developing a terahertz-based explosives detection capability since April 2003. Techniques have the potential for identifying explosives hidden under clothing, as well as producing images of hidden items. The work is carried out in close liaison with the police service, Department for Transport and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to ensure that it addresses their specific operational requirements. Effort is split between commercial contractors who are developing instrumentation, and in-house work to determine the physical limitations of the technology.
Although the full potential of terahertz technology is not likely to be realised for several years, some capability may be available in the shorter term.
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding his Department has allocated to research into the use of ion mobility spectrometers to detect minute particles of explosives in public places in each of the last five years. [15412]
Hazel Blears: Explosives trace detection systems based Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) have been in use for many years. In recent years they have been widely deployed at UK airports. The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (formerly the Police Scientific Development Branch) routinely tests new trace detection systems and gives advice on their performance to customers such as the police service and Department for Transport.
The test methods used are agreed with the customers and kept under review to ensure they are relevant to the currently perceived terrorist threat. The equipment is supplied by manufacturers free of charge for the trials period.
Unfortunately, since the testing of IMS systems is done as part of a larger programme of evaluation of search and detection equipment it is not possible to say specifically how much it costs each year.
Faith Awareness Training
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in the Department received faith awareness training in 2004. [3805]
Paul Goggins: The Home Office holds an annual diversity week to raise staff awareness of all diversity issues including faith. In 2004, diversity week included presentations on Buddhism, a Ramadan awareness session, business planning/managing workload around religious festivals and visits to different places of worship.
The Home Office has also published A brief guide to Major Religious and Cultural Observance in the UK" that gives information on the 11 most observed religions or cultures in the UK. The guide is intended to assist managers when considering applications for leave for religious or cultural occasions or when scheduling meetings or other events. The Home Office publishes a notice each year giving specific dates for each of the religious festivals detailed in the guide.
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Faryadi Zardad
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total costs are to date of the investigation, detention and hearings related to the two trials of Faryadi Zardad, broken down by (a) legal aid support, (b) police costs, (c) benefits, (d) custody costs, (e) trial costs and (f) other costs. [15052]
Fiona Mactaggart: The costs associated with the investigation and prosecution of Faryadi Zardad have not been fully assessed and to provide them at this stage would involve a number of other departments and agencies and would incur a disproportionate cost.
Fixed-penalty Notices
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices for disorder have been issued in Cambridgeshire in each year since 1997, broken down by category; and what percentage of fines has been collected in each case. [14558]
Paul Goggins: The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 provided for penalty notices for disorder. Pilots took place between August 2002 and September 2003 and the scheme was rolled out to all police forces in England and Wales during the 2003–04 financial year.
Penalty notices for disorder were first issued in Cambridgeshire in April 2004. The available information on the number of notices issued in Cambridgeshire in the 12 months from April 2004 to March 2005 is provided in the table and includes the percentage of penalties that were paid.
The recipient of a penalty notice has 21 days in which to pay the penalty or request a court hearing. If no action is taken within this time a fine of one and a half times the penalty is registered against the recipient. The fine is then enforced by the courts. The current payment rate for fines is 80 per cent.
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Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices for fly-posting and graffiti have been issued since the implementation of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003; and what percentage have been collected. [14559]
Mr. Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
The power to issue fixed penalty notices for graffiti and fly-posting offences came into force in March 2004. Data for the year April 2004 to March 2005 are still being collected, with 170 returns forms received to date from England and Wales' 358 local authorities. These 170 authorities issued 19 fixed penalty notices for graffiti over the year, of which 74 per cent. were paid, and 57 fixed penalty notices for fly posting, of which 79 per cent. were paid.
Fly-tipping
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of fly-tipping were reported in Cambridgeshire in each year since 1997. [14556]
Paul Goggins: The information requested is not collected centrally. Unauthorised dumping" is an offence under Section 2 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978. It is a summary offence and is not included in the recorded crime statistics.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for fly-tipping there were in Cambridgeshire in each year since 1997. [14557]
Paul Goggins: The available information is contained in the following table and gives the number of defendants proceeded against for fly-tipping" offences for Cambridgeshire police force area, 1997 to 2003. Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
(148)These data are on the principal offence basis.
(149)Includes offences under: Environmental Protection Act 1990, Secs 33 (6) (8) (9), 34 and 59.
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