Previous Section Index Home Page

19 Oct 2005 : Column 1009W—continued

EU Travel Bans

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list individuals subject to an EU travel ban who have entered UK territory in the last three years. [16072]

Andy Burnham: This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1010W
 

Firearms

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which regions of the United Kingdom are owners or keepers of soft airguns and low powered airguns, with an energy level in excess of one joule, required to hold a firearm certificate. [18093]

Hazel Blears [holding answer 14 October 2005]: There is no such requirement in Great Britain except for air weapons declared to be especially dangerous by rules made by the Secretary of State under section 53 of the Firearms Act 1968 i.e. air pistols with a muzzle energy in excess of six ft.lb or air rifles with a muzzle energy in excess of 12 ft.lb. The Act does not extend to Northern Ireland which has its own specific legislation

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment if he will assess the accountability of police forces in England and Wales in their use of firearms. [18534]

Hazel Blears: The use of lethal force by police officers is subject to the same requirements as for any other use of force. In general terms, the Criminal Law Act 1967 provides that the police may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances to effect an arrest or to prevent crime. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 also provides for the use of force when necessary in exercising any of the powers provided under that Act.

Within the general framework of the law governing the use of force by the police, Chief Officers must have regard to the Statutory Code of Practice on the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons.

The Code is made under the Police Acts of 1996 and 1997. The Code of Practice is backed up by a more detailed Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers which covers the more operational aspects of the use of firearms.

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes are required to the laws banning the use of certain handguns in order to allow the relevant Olympic events to take place at the London 2012 Games. [17785]

Hazel Blears: No changes to the law are required to allow the pistol shooting events to take place at the Olympic Games to be hosted by London in 2012. The necessary arrangements can be made by issuing authorities under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.

General Almog

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his Department is proposing to take further action to effect the arrest of General Almog; [17027]

(2) whether his Department made a request to Interpol to circulate the arrest warrant for General Almog. [17029]

Andy Burnham: The arrest warrant was issued on 10 September. On 15 September the District Judge who issued the warrant withdrew it, noting that it had been issued on grounds of urgency, but once General Almog had left the UK, the urgency was removed. There is therefore no outstanding warrant for his arrest.
 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1011W
 

Illegal Immigrants

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) private and (b) commercial vehicles entering the UK were searched by immigration officials at the (i) Hull, (ii) Dover, (iii)Portsmouth and (iv) Southampton ports of entry in the last period for which figures are available. [3139]

Mr. McNulty: At Hull, Southampton, Portsmouth and juxtaposed locations with services arriving at Dover, manual searches of private cars are conducted by Immigration Service staff on a risk assessed, intelligence led basis. Figures are not collated on these checks.

Commercial vehicles on services to Portsmouth, Southampton and Hull are screened by the port operator and carriers abroad. Figures are not available for these checks. On arrival in the UK screening of the vehicles by the Immigration Service is undertaken on a risk assessed intelligence led basis. 100 per cent. of commercial vehicles departing from juxtaposed locations to Dover are screened by the port operators on behalf of carriers using search technologies provided by the Immigration Service. Secondary checks are also conducted by Immigration Officers at juxtaposed locations on a risk assessed, intelligence led basis.

Licensing Hours

Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are available to the police to disperse youths in known troublespots; and if he will make a statement. [18557]

Hazel Blears: Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 gives the police a power to disperse groups who are causing or who are likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress to others.
 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1012W
 

These powers are limited to areas where anti-social behaviour is a significant and persistent problem and there is a history of members of the public causing intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress to others.

If a superintendent is satisfied that these conditions have been met and he has gained the agreement of the local authority, he may give authorisation for this power to be used by an officer for a period of up to six months.

Parking Fines

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will collate and publish figures for (a) the income from parking fines and (b) the number of parking fines issued in each local authority area in England in each year since 1997. [17501]

Paul Goggins: Whilst information is not available centrally on the amount of income from parking fines, available information on court-imposed fines and fixed penalty notices issued by the police is given in the following tables. The information is broken down by police force area and relates to all offences of obstruction, waiting and parking in England during the calendar years 1997 to 2003 (latest available).

Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.

Information for 2004 will be available early in 2006.Under the Road Traffic Act 1991, decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE) powers allow local authorities to take over responsibility for enforcing parking contraventions from police. Data on penalty charge notices (PCNs) from individual local authorities operating decriminalised parking enforcement was first published in the Home Office publication 'Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales 2002 Supplementary tables'. The latest publication 2003 [Table 22(a)—22(b) refers] lists data by local authorities partaking in the scheme, a copy of which is available in the Library. This publication can also be accessed on the Home Office research development and statistics (RDS) website at:


Table A: Fixed penalty data by police force area for obstruction, waiting and parking offences1,2England 1997–2003
Number of tickets

1997
1998
1999
Police force areaEndorsableNon-endorsableEndorsableNon-endorsableEndorsableNon-endorsable
Avon and Somerset758,107452,916749,519
Bedfordshire35,46934,5925,175
Cambridgeshire232,499128,77930,387
Cheshire332,257430,182325,922
Cleveland21,700222,864118,633
Cumbria220,800223,162212,952
Derbyshire323,870125,99822,926
Devon and Cornwall480,531284,877577,906
Dorset40,72532,79032,708
Durham115,040215,91212,140
Essex1059,748958,919549,230
Gloucestershire133,41731,067128,467
Greater Manchester7166,2429141,889578,844
Hampshire570,475766,249850,937
Hertfordshire252,954331,219236,064
Humberside329,027325,990223,910
Kent1165,033558,707548,753
Lancashire1994,864882,8371571,449
Leicestershire553,338249,078345,722
Lincolnshire29,067926,641215,486
London, City of6661,1093725
Merseyside698,229497,5181286,912
Met Police90160,76198205,77941192,069
Norfolk36,350130,754126,388
Northamptonshire29,57627,854221,272
Northumbria747,592345,653839,865
North Yorkshire522,127719,970220,437
Nottinghamshire242,021237,00434,871
South Yorkshire428,256730,8471126,694
Staffordshire1126,445927,459421,256
Suffolk623,037521,753120,574
Surrey625,614725,400620,544
Sussex13120,2447111,8595101,971
Thames Valley677,971676,943366,454
Warwickshire115,550218,02016,749
West Mercia426,221426,138226,688
West Midlands23156,25126148,94423119,867
West Yorkshire1069,608763,556560,337
Wiltshire516,025215,452112,896
England2842,037,7072701,956,6801961,653,699

 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1013W
 

Number of tickets

2000
2001
2002
Police force areaEndorsableNon-endorsableEndorsableNon-endorsableEndorsableNon-endorsable
Avon and Somerset134,551425,827122,481
Bedfordshire23,4852,9913,602
Cambridgeshire132,675133,28632,237
Cheshire319,24817,532115,776
Cleveland15,487110,634215,721
Cumbria35,8575,75832,384
Derbyshire22,25918,792216,409
Devon and Cornwall377,874359,407459,631
Dorset331,25625,5008,034
Durham216,082112,521112,499
Essex640,656129,772123,534
Gloucestershire128,52726,50026,411
Greater Manchester371,056243,381334,820
Hampshire531,622940,015422,695
Hertfordshire332,574332,70927,054
Humberside426,594325,701226,504
Kent123,673101,70241,086
Lancashire664,929655,992447,729
Leicestershire337,987339,885341,651
Lincolnshire215,89315,72516,659
London, City of4382511741
Merseyside361,246449,967335,989
Met Police27196,96521141,77618141,950
Norfolk225,33723,880310,135
Northamptonshire12,8747,9884,457
Northumbria944,6872457,7801548,670
North Yorkshire213,52914,43519,435
Nottinghamshire231,52524,51513,387
South Yorkshire828,940630,360629,356
Staffordshire511,93679,15417,275
Suffolk220,83718,953120,439
Surrey421,431122,961425,040
Sussex6119,765571,966147,515
Thames Valley451,917537,409634,605
Warwickshire113,80115,35516,556
West Mercia122,736417,104217,382
West Midlands1788,1371864,0301046,436
West Yorkshire161,143355,300555,977
Wiltshire110,21017,4508,395
England1581,449,7391481,194,5241111,030,657

 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1015W
 

Number of tickets

2003
Police force areaEndorsableNon-endorsable
Avon and Somerset1417,638
Bedfordshire2,235
Cambridgeshire122,459
Cheshire115,938
Cleveland8,522
Cumbria21,814
Derbyshire215,779
Devon and Cornwall257,699
Dorset635
Durham5,668
Essex49,953
Gloucestershire127,703
Greater Manchester27,964
Hampshire818,384
Hertfordshire19,216
Humberside125,503
Kent6979
Lancashire831,771
Leicestershire131,023
Lincolnshire18,563
London, City of3678
Merseyside217,600
Met Police26209,195
Norfolk9,532
Northamptonshire3,701
Northumbria2130,418
North Yorkshire5,670
Nottinghamshire16,634
South Yorkshire727,549
Staffordshire18,410
Suffolk1420,183
Surrey516,125
Sussex246,181
Thames Valley424,781
Warwickshire14,041
West Mercia312,451
West Midlands1553,118
West Yorkshire254,176
Wiltshire5,618
England158915,507


(4)Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.22; Transport Act 2000 ss.173 (5); 173 (6); 173 (7); 174 (3); 175 (2); 175 (3); 175 (4); 190 Highway Act 1835 ss 72 and 78; RTA 1988 ss. 19 & 21; Highways Act 1980 s. 137 (1); Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 ss. 5 (1), 8,32–36 and 45–53; Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) regulations 1986 Regs. 101 and 103; Transport Act 2000 Part III; Metropolitan Police Act 1839 s. 54 (1)
(5)Does not include decriminalised parking enforcements (DPE).



 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1016W
 

Table B: Court proceedings data for obstruction, waiting and parking offences(6)(5508180007) England 1997–2003Court proceedings(8)

1997
1998
Police force areaTotal number of finesTotal amount of fine (£)Average amount of
fines (£)
Total number of finesTotal amount of fine (£)Average amount of
fines (£)
Avon and Somerset39927,2516830214,55548
Bedfordshire1154,600401064,40042
Cambridgeshire1676,820411626,98043
Cheshire27210,928402709,98937
Cleveland36612,355343289,73330
Cumbria1285,050391174,47538
Derbyshire32412,7283943821,01048
Devon and Cornwall48620,2004250219,43539
Dorset883,42339863,51541
Durham2278035713,03543
Essex41619,7054737816,90445
Gloucestershire1456,350441203,89032
Greater Manchester1,13061,0045490836,66740
Hampshire1195,026421586,98444
Hertfordshire2088,1803920810,14949
Humberside45412,8552845313,92031
Kent30213,6514530410,37434
Lancashire50424,7054953223,46044
Leicestershire2028,895441909,12048
Lincolnshire712,47035823,37541
London, City of787,9131017715,285199
Merseyside45616,2203699344,48845
Met Police2,208429,3151942,785307,948111
Norfolk1133,53531762,74036
Northamptonshire46323,3105044023,17553
Northumbria29510,7543624810,87844
North Yorkshire803,68746692,65538
Nottinghamshire2589,227362168,90341
South Yorkshire2229,095411958,41743
Staffordshire1416,470461739,19653
Suffolk43513,7353235511,85533
Surrey914,22546672,63039
Sussex2519,2493739213,60635
Thames Valley35713,0743733914,61043
Warwickshire1617,81049683,44051
West Mercia44921,9454954822,90142
West Midlands83434,1834196242,37644
West Yorkshire35015,1894353122,09042
Wiltshire1857,290392549,75138
England13,345913,2026814,503808,91456









 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1017W
 

Court proceedings(8)

1999
2000
Police force areaTotal number of finesTotal amount of fine (£)Average amount of
fines (£)
Total number of finesTotal amount of fine (£)Average amount of
fines (£)
Avon and Somerset32220,4276324715,36262
Bedfordshire451,90042181,21167
Cambridgeshire1124,68542923,16534
Cheshire1726,851401295,84445
Cleveland2839,6253427710,05036
Cumbria1095,53851633,80560
Derbyshire45921,3904735316,45047
Devon and Cornwall55319,1103538614,46037
Dorset783,72048843,65043
Durham1205,680471657,05043
Essex49120,9114333419,92560
Gloucestershire43018,3324373827,32337
Greater Manchester63725,3714039217,13344
Hampshire1405,384381003,90039
Hertfordshire30918,9066139525,26564
Humberside3039,161301253,61029
Kent1757,46043846,46177
Lancashire53120,5773944615,53235
Leicestershire24110,817451817,12039
Lincolnshire682,51637491,53031
London, City of6711,58017310326,427257
Merseyside64223,9973739516,51642
Met Police3,045367,9281213,002435,821145
Norfolk632,84045612,29538
Northamptonshire56730,1575346326,56057
Northumbria28310,820382257,99036
North Yorkshire783,58546693,15546
Nottinghamshire1526,289411527,89052
South Yorkshire19713,875701305,76544
Staffordshire1135,58749371,94052
Suffolk34312,7853731310,82535
Surrey1044,09639622,48040
Sussex42915,1373549316,94534
Thames Valley29813,5404531114,95248
Warwickshire1535,090331426,91049
West Mercia65234,1955246322,45048
West Midlands93644,1024761228,64447
West Yorkshire68630,3104450926,18644
Wiltshire29312,1424129420,57570
England14,679886,4166012,584893,17271

Court proceedings(8)

2001
2002
Police force areaTotal number of finesTotal amount of fine (£)Average amount of
fines (£)
Total number of finesTotal amount of fine (£)Average amount of
fines (£)
Avon and Somerset22220,1149123922,54094
Bedfordshire16820511264554
Cambridgeshire1134,495401095,92554
Cheshire2329,385401647,72047
Cleveland46516,3003536013,30037
Cumbria382,19058563,61064
Derbyshire31016,6755429916,63556
Devon and Cornwall46519,2954135716,25246
Dorset46519,29541653,37052
Durham1366,20046777,14593
Essex22412,2385528618,72765
Gloucestershire77032,1914281430,45037
Greater Manchester47022,8024929912,96043
Hampshire1085,10047814,31553
Hertfordshire18413,620741409,55068
Humberside833,350401606,22539
Kent241,97082211,50071
Lancashire44220,8354760625,46542
Leicestershire48117,666371,01861,86561
Lincolnshire1084,480411375,83543
London, City of193,420180263,755144
Merseyside74530,4854137214,82540
Met Police2,400363,4711512,374353,392149
Norfolk1154,707411268,91671
Northamptonshire1529,775641898555
Northumbria27411,6354225610,52541
North Yorkshire924,35047562,62047
Nottinghamshire20810,0654829417,20059
South Yorkshire2069,8704821710,83550
Staffordshire231,24554211,68580
Suffolk27410,5903937815,40541
Surrey663,67156673,97059
Sussex44715,883361295,61544
Thames Valley45939,3508625411,71546
Warwickshire1568,265531669,33056
West Mercia49424,0714937320,39055
West Midlands33816,8415031513,78544
West Yorkshire54821,8274056321,24738
Wiltshire15210,6787017413,60378
England12,524849,2206811,479813,83271

 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1019W
 

Court Proceedings(8)

2003
Police force areaTotal number of finesTotal amount of fine (£)Average amount of fines (£)
Avon and Somerset1109,44586
Bedfordshire754,02054
Cambridgeshire985,44556
Cheshire472,26048
Cleveland32211,04534
Cumbria452.90565
Derbyshire34918,57553
Devon and Cornwall30014,06847
Dorset423559
Durham432,04047
Essex1499.82066
Gloucestershire84530,75536
Greater Manchester37616,99045
Hampshire643,74058
Hertfordshire966,75370
Humberside2148,41039
Kent1478056
Lancashire57623,13840
Leicestershire1,818105,28558
Lincolnshire1857,86042
London, City of191,63586
Merseyside1688,53951
Met Police2,363346,848147
Norfolk1097,67870
Northamptonshire261,86372
Northumbria2109,64046
North Yorkshire2189042
Nottinghamshire2189042
South Yorkshire19410,36553
Staffordshire323,00094
Suffolk36916,42845
Surrey955,96063
Sussex1165.08344
Thames Valley32517,83055
Warwickshire25714,37056
West Mercia29617,81660
West Midlands27913,29048
West Yorkshire62433,86554
Wiltshire18522,174120
England11,436821,73372


(6)Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.22; Transport Act 2000 ss.173 (5); 173 (6); 173 (7); 174 (3); 175 (2); 175 (3); 175 (4); 100 Highway Act 1835 ss 72 and 78; RTA 1988 ss. 19 and 21: Highways Act 1980 s. 137 (1); Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 ss. 5 (1), 8, 32–36 and 45–53; Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) regulations 1986 Regs. 101 and 103; Transport Act 2000 Part III; Metropolitan Police Act 1839 s. 54 (1).
(7)Does not include decriminalised parking enforcements (DPE).
(8)Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.



 
19 Oct 2005 : Column 1020W
 


Next Section Index Home Page