House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 Nov 2005 (pt 5)

10 Nov 2005 : Column 652W—continued

Offensive Weapons

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been found to be carrying knives in public without a good reason or lawful authority in (a) England and Wales and (b) the Teignbridge constituency since the coming into force of the Knives Act 1997; and how many of these received a prison sentence. [25892]

Hazel Blears: The information available is shown in the following table.
Defendants sentenced and given custody for carrying a weapon or blade, 1997–2004⁽⁷⁾

1997 1998 1999 2000

Teignbridge magistrates court⁽⁸⁾

Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or Sentenced 5 1 1 7

reasonable excuse Immediate custody 2 0 1 0

Having an article with a blade in a public place Sentenced 1 1 1 3

custody Immediate 0 1 0 0

Total of both offences Sentenced 6 2 2 10

Immediate custody 2 1 1 0

South Devon magistrates court⁽⁸⁾

Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or Sentenced n/a n/a n/a n/a

reasonable excuse Immediate custody n/a n/a n/a n/a

Having an article with a blade in a public place Sentenced n/a n/a n/a n/a

Immediate custody n/a n/a n/a n/a

Total of both offences Sentenced n/a n/a n/a n/a

Immediate custody n/a n/a n/a n/a

England and Wales

Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or Sentenced 4,130 4,375 4,135 4,108

reasonable excuse Immediate custody 509 585 554 595

Having an article with a blade in a public place Sentenced 3,341 3,788 3,548 3,518

Immediate custody 372 550 534 499

Total of both offences Sentenced 7,471 8,163 7,683 7,626

Immediate custody 881 1,135 1,088 1,094

10 Nov 2005 : Column 653W

2001 2002 2003 2004

Teignbridge magistrates court⁽⁸⁾

Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or Sentenced n/a n/a n/a n/a

reasonable excuse Immediate custody n/a n/a n/a n/a

Having an article with a blade in a public place Sentenced n/a n/a n/a n/a

custody Immediate n/a n/a n/a n/a

Total of both offences Sentenced n/a n/a n/a n/a

Immediate custody n/a n/a n/a n/a

South Devon magistrates court⁽⁸⁾

Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or Sentenced 23 18 29 20

reasonable excuse Immediate custody 2 1 2 3

Having an article with a blade in a public place Sentenced 8 17 31 14

Immediate custody 1 1 0 0

Total of both offences Sentenced 31 35 60 34

Immediate custody 3 2 2 3

England and Wales

Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or Sentenced 4,873 5,441 5,394 5,758

reasonable excuse Immediate custody 634 787 760 817

Having an article with a blade in a public place Sentenced 4,303 5,269 5,311 5,802

Immediate custody 589 766 755 803

Total of both offences Sentenced 9,176 10,710 10,705 11,560

Immediate custody 1,223 1,553 1,515 1,620

⁽⁷⁾The above offences are not covered within the Knifes Act 1997 which came into force, partly in September 1997 and fully in March 1999. The offences are covered under previous Acts. The offences of possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse is covered under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 S.1. The offence of having an article with a blade or point in a public place is covered by the Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139.
⁽⁸⁾The Teignbridge Court was amalgamated into the South Devon magistrates court in 2000–01. The figures are shown for each court separately.
Source:
RDS NOMS 3/11/2005

		1997	1998	1999	2000
Teignbridge magistrates court⁽⁸⁾
Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or	Sentenced	5	1	1	7
reasonable excuse	Immediate custody	2	0	1	0
Having an article with a blade in a public place	Sentenced	1	1	1	3
	custody Immediate	0	1	0	0
Total of both offences	Sentenced	6	2	2	10
	Immediate custody	2	1	1	0

South Devon magistrates court⁽⁸⁾
Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or	Sentenced	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
reasonable excuse	Immediate custody	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Having an article with a blade in a public place	Sentenced	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Immediate custody	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Total of both offences	Sentenced	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Immediate custody	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
England and Wales
Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or	Sentenced	4,130	4,375	4,135	4,108
reasonable excuse	Immediate custody	509	585	554	595
Having an article with a blade in a public place	Sentenced	3,341	3,788	3,548	3,518
	Immediate custody	372	550	534	499
Total of both offences	Sentenced	7,471	8,163	7,683	7,626
	Immediate custody	881	1,135	1,088	1,094

		2001	2002	2003	2004
Teignbridge magistrates court⁽⁸⁾
Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or	Sentenced	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
reasonable excuse	Immediate custody	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Having an article with a blade in a public place	Sentenced	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	custody Immediate	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Total of both offences	Sentenced	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Immediate custody	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

South Devon magistrates court⁽⁸⁾
Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or	Sentenced	23	18	29	20
reasonable excuse	Immediate custody	2	1	2	3
Having an article with a blade in a public place	Sentenced	8	17	31	14
	Immediate custody	1	1	0	0
Total of both offences	Sentenced	31	35	60	34
	Immediate custody	3	2	2	3

England and Wales
Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or	Sentenced	4,873	5,441	5,394	5,758
reasonable excuse	Immediate custody	634	787	760	817
Having an article with a blade in a public place	Sentenced	4,303	5,269	5,311	5,802
	Immediate custody	589	766	755	803
Total of both offences	Sentenced	9,176	10,710	10,705	11,560
	Immediate custody	1,223	1,553	1,515	1,620

Persistent Offenders

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to deal with persistent offenders. [24286]

Hazel Blears: The Prolific and other Priority Offenders (PPO) strategy was launched by the Prime Minister in March 2004 to target not only existing prolific offenders but also those young people who are on the cusp of a prolific offending lifestyle. The strategy has three strands: prevent and deter—to stop young people becoming prolific offenders; catch and convict—tackling those who are already prolific offenders; and rehabilitate and resettle—working to increase the number of offenders who stop offending by offering a range of supportive interventions.

Over 10,000 existing prolific offenders have been identified by schemes across England and Wales. In addition, approximately 4,000 young people have been identified as suitable for support as part of the prevent and deter strand. A report of the early findings of the evaluation of the PPO strategy was published in October 2005. It provides encouraging but early indicative data on the impact on the offending rates of PPOs, as well as

10 Nov 2005 : Column 654W

information about the characteristics of the targeted PPO population and how schemes are intervening with them.

Police

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in (a) the South Tyneside area command and (b) Northumbria in each year since 1997. [24289]

Hazel Blears: The available information is provided in the following table.
Number of police officers (full-time equivalent) (1997–2005)

As at 31 March South Tyneside⁽⁹⁾ Northumbria

1997 — 3,677

1998 — 3,769

1999 — 3,840

2000 — 3,788

2001 254.93 3,857

2002 267.59 3,929

2003 333.31 4,018

2004 392.14 4,061

2005 441.27 4,088

⁽⁹⁾Data are unavailable prior to 2001.

10 Nov 2005 : Column 655W

As at 31 March	South Tyneside⁽⁹⁾	Northumbria
1997	—	3,677
1998	—	3,769
1999	—	3,840
2000	—	3,788
2001	254.93	3,857
2002	267.59	3,929
2003	333.31	4,018
2004	392.14	4,061
2005	441.27	4,088

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide additional resources over the next four years to the Thames Valley police for the enforcement of the recent ban on hunting with dogs. [26110]

Hazel Blears: The enforcement of the ban on hunting with dogs is a normal policing function and forces are expected to absorb the costs of this activity within their plans and budgeted resources. These are operational matters for the local chief constable.

We have invested heavily in policing in England and Wales over the past five years. Expenditure supported by Government grant or spent centrally on policing increased by 39 per cent. or over £3 billion between 2000–01 and 2005–06. Thames Valley is receiving its fair share of the available resources.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to expand the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time police officers working in (i) Romford, (ii) Havering, (iii) Essex and (iv)Greater London over the next 12 months. [26443]

Hazel Blears: This information is not available centrally. The number of police officers deployed in particular areas of Essex and London are operational decisions which are the responsibility of the chief constable and the commissioner.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were charged for speeding in each police force in each of the last 10 years. [26447]

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of police personnel charged by type of offence is not collected centrally.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many graduates in the police force's fast-tracking system met his Department's target of becoming a chief inspector in seven years in each of the last five years. [26563]

Hazel Blears: There is no target for fast tracking police officers with a university degree to the rank of chief inspector within seven years. The Police High Potential Development Scheme, which is currently placed 20 in the 2005–06 Times Top 100 Graduate Employers listing, provides development opportunities

10 Nov 2005 : Column 656W

tailored to individual needs for those who successfully pass the selection process to combine real work experience, practical training and academic study in order to move through the ranks to senior leadership positions in the police service.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cells are in use in Essex, broken down by location. [18085]

Hazel Blears: This is an operational matter for the chief constable of Essex police but I understand that the numbers of cells in use in Essex are as set out in thefollowing table.

Police cells in use in Essex Number

Braintree 8

Brentwood 7

Chelmsford 11

Clacton 12

Colchester 17

Grays 12

Harlow 14

Harwich 5

Loughton 3

Rayleigh 16

Southend 23

South Woodham Ferrers 4

Stansted 3

Tilbury 3

Total 138

Police cells in use in Essex	Number
Braintree	8
Brentwood	7
Chelmsford	11
Clacton	12
Colchester	17
Grays	12
Harlow	14
Harwich	5
Loughton	3
Rayleigh	16
Southend	23
South Woodham Ferrers	4
Stansted	3
Tilbury	3
Total	138

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the projected funding per head of the population was for each police authority in England and Wales in 2004–05. [24934]

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Igave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 514W.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in Leeds, North West in each year since 1997, broken down by ethnicity; and what percentage of the total in each year was accounted for by each ethnic group. [23998]

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally. Data are available for West Yorkshire police and is provided in the following table.
Police officer strength for West Yorkshire (1997–2005) Ethnicity breakdown⁽¹⁰⁾ Full-time equivalent⁽¹¹⁾

As at 31 March White Mixed Black or black British Asian or Asian British Other
ethnic group Not
stated Total
minority ethnic Total all
Police officers

1997 — — — — — — 130 5,209

1998 — — — — — — 133 5,155

1999 — — — — — — 131 4,982

2000 — — — — — — 127 4,822

2001 — — — — — — 139 4,815

2002 — — — — — — 152 4,889

2003 4,830 29 38 87 9 45 163 5,037

2004 5,088 38 37 100 11 40 186 5,314

2005 5,427 46 43 120 12 24 221 5,671

⁽¹⁰⁾Ethnicity breakdown is only available from 2003 onwards.
⁽¹¹⁾FTE includes those on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.

10 Nov 2005 : Column 657W

Police officer strength for West Yorkshire (1997–2005) Ethnicity Breakdown⁽¹²⁾ Percentage

As at 31 March White Mixed Black or black British Asian or Asian British Other
ethnic group Not
stated Total
minority ethnic Total number (FTE) of police officers

1997 — — — — — — 2.5 5,209

1998 — — — — — — 2.6 5,155

1999 — — — — — — 2.6 4,982

2000 — — — — — — 2.6 4,822

2001 — — — — — — 2.9 4,815

2002 — — — — — — 3.1 4,889

2003 95.9 0.6 0.8 1.7 0.2 0.9 3.2 5,037

2004 95.7 0.7 0.7 1.9 0.2 0.8 3.5 5,314

2005 95.7 0.8 0.8 2.1 0.2 0.4 3.9 5,671

⁽¹²⁾Ethnicity breakdown is only available from 2003 onwards

As at 31 March	White	Mixed	Black or black British	Asian or Asian British	Other ethnic group	Not stated	Total minority ethnic	Total all Police officers
1997	—	—	—	—	—	—	130	5,209
1998	—	—	—	—	—	—	133	5,155
1999	—	—	—	—	—	—	131	4,982
2000	—	—	—	—	—	—	127	4,822
2001	—	—	—	—	—	—	139	4,815
2002	—	—	—	—	—	—	152	4,889
2003	4,830	29	38	87	9	45	163	5,037
2004	5,088	38	37	100	11	40	186	5,314
2005	5,427	46	43	120	12	24	221	5,671

As at 31 March	White	Mixed	Black or black British	Asian or Asian British	Other ethnic group	Not stated	Total minority ethnic	Total number (FTE) of police officers
1997	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.5	5,209
1998	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.6	5,155
1999	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.6	4,982
2000	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.6	4,822
2001	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.9	4,815
2002	—	—	—	—	—	—	3.1	4,889
2003	95.9	0.6	0.8	1.7	0.2	0.9	3.2	5,037
2004	95.7	0.7	0.7	1.9	0.2	0.8	3.5	5,314
2005	95.7	0.8	0.8	2.1	0.2	0.4	3.9	5,671

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official complaints have been lodged against police officers in each London borough in each of the last 10 years. [27121]

Hazel Blears: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Member directly. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the Libraries.

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department provides on the minimum number of officers necessary to staff a police station at night. [24475]

Hazel Blears: This is a matter for local determination according to operational need. The Home Office does not issue guidance on it.

Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal investigators there were in the Bedfordshire police force in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [24378]

Hazel Blears: The available information is for 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 and is given in the table.Information for previous years is not currently available.
Police officers in CID function (full-time equivalent) in Bedfordshire (1997–2005)

CID⁽¹³⁾ officers

1997 n/a

1998 n/a

1999 n/a

2000 n/a

2001 n/a

2002 n/a

2003 85

2004 124

2005 131

⁽¹³⁾This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

	CID⁽¹³⁾ officers
1997	n/a
1998	n/a
1999	n/a
2000	n/a
2001	n/a
2002	n/a
2003	85
2004	124
2005	131

Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to reduce the loss of experienced criminal investigators from Bedfordshire to other forces, as identified by the Police Performance Assessment 2004–05; and if he will make a statement. [24379]

10 Nov 2005 : Column 658W

Hazel Blears: We understand that the numbers of detectives transferring from Bedfordshire has declined and is not considered a problem. Like all forces, Bedfordshire have a range of pay and other incentives to retain officers in particular posts.

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