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13 Feb 2006 : Column 1739W—continued

Police Pounds

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to police authorities on the levying of charges on owners for the retrieval of stolen vehicles from police pounds. [47776]

Paul Goggins: The police have powers to order the removal of any vehicle that is dangerously, obstructively or illegally parked, broken down or abandoned, including vehicles abandoned after being stolen.

The Government regard such removals as important for road safety and crime reduction. Before owners can regain any vehicle so removed, they are required by law to pay fees prescribed by the Secretary of State to meet the costs of removal and storage. The Government consider it would not be appropriate for such costs to fall on the public purse. We recognise, however, the concerns that have been expressed by and on behalf of the owners of stolen vehicles who have had to pay for return of their own property. Following lengthy consideration of all the issues, we have reached agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers on recommended best practice in such cases.

This includes an immediate notification on report of a vehicle theft as to the need to pay the statutory fees when the vehicle is recovered, a follow-up letter with more detailed information and further information and advice on police force websites.
 
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1740W
 

Prisoners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of (a) male and (b) female inmates in prisons in England and Wales are considered to be drug dependent. [47719]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Epidemiological studies show the proportion of prisoners assessed as showing signs of dependence on entry into custody are on average (a) 51 per cent. of males and (b) 54 per cent. of females.

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners underwent treatment for drugs dependence in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales in each of the past five years. [49101]

Fiona Mactaggart: Figures for prisoners undergoing drug treatment are given in the table. There are no recorded figures prior to 2001–02. Figures for programme completion were not collected prior to 2004–05.
2001–022002–032003–042004–05
Haltemprice & Howden
CARATs342426274198
Detox446000
Programmes entrants32847774
Completions42
East Riding
CARATs9431,5271,6251,497
Detox1,1941,2361,6761,462
Programmes entrants7210295105
Completions68
England and Wales
CARATs39,33851,89654,12559,025
Detox41,76550,70157,89153,903
Programmes entrants4,69143864,7037,621
Completions4,902

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners on licence were recalled to prison following a breach of that licence in each of the last eight years. [48790]

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the number of persons recalled to prison (a) from Home Detention Curfew, (b) from licence following determinate sentences of four years or more, and (c) from life licence can be found in tables 10.7 to 10.9 respectively of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/05: Offender Management Caseload Statistics, England and Wales, 2004. Copies of this publication can be found in the House of Commons Library. Information on the number of persons sentenced to less than four years who were not released on Home Detention Curfew and who were recalled to prison from licence between 1999–2000 and 2004–05 is provided in the following table. Most of these recalls are not the result of new charges but because of breach of conditions or changed circumstances. The increase reflects a determination to make supervision under licence an effective part of a sentence.
 
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Number of persons sentenced to less than four years who were not released on HDC and who were recalled from licence in each year

Number recalled
1999–200038
2000–011,637
2001–023,439
2002–034,950
2003–046,415
2004–056,378

Probation Service

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) probation officer and (b) probation service officers were in post in each probation area at the end of each of the past five financial years. [48449]

Fiona Mactaggart: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to 1 April 2003 is unreliable, and is not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. The figures presented in the tables show full-time equivalent (FTE) figures at the close of each year from 1 April 2003 and at 30 September 2005.
(a) Probation officers in post by area

2003–04
Quarter 1Quarter 2Quarter 3Quarter 4
Avon and Somerset96.40112.90110.40
Bedfordshire57.3061.1062.60
Cambridgeshire75.5085.3575.97
Cheshire116.10112.30114.30
Cumbria59.9059.9056.30
Derbyshire117.60106.70102.70
Devon and Cornwall136.80149.35146.30
Dorset63.0068.0063.10
Durham72.0086.5087.50
Dyfed Powys46.7046.3043.70
Essex106.00111.20117.50
Gloucestershire52.3056.4055.40
Gwent69.1068.1069.20
Hampshire155.90173.59178.60
Hertfordshire63.7065.9071.99
Humberside121.78139.78138.78
Kent138.35148.55154.95
Lancashire243.20243.60246.10
Leicestershire126.00125.00130.70
Lincolnshire64.2061.6060.60
London795.70840.50862.50
Greater Manchester414.70399.80387.58
Merseyside243.90241.50238.44
Norfolk72.6876.8884.18
North Yorkshire66.2075.8075.60
North Wales58.7067.1067.50
Northamptonshire69.0065.0063.00
Northumbria223.30252.26253.10
Nottinghamshire166.00171.50160.90
South Wales155.60157.60172.30
South Yorkshire183.50203.00202.40
Staffordshire148.70147.10146.20
Suffolk82.2581.7585.15
Surrey56.7063.9066.55
Sussex121.20123.30126.60
Teesside64.6076.6074.85
Thames Valley163.00176.70182.00
Warwickshire55.0055.0053.21
West Mercia123.31125.46125.90
West Midlands374.50429.20406.82
West Yorkshire275.57310.48313.86
Wiltshire41.9048.9050.10
Total5,831.105,937.846,271.456,285.43

 
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1742W
 


2004–05
2005–06
Quarter 1Quarter 2Quarter 3Quarter 4Quarter 1Quarter 2
Avon and Somerset151.90148.10153.70153.30154.40158.80
Bedfordshire56.4058.0061.0066.0065.0063.00
Cambridgeshire74.9075.6078.2776.2773.7077.07
Cheshire109.60113.80113.90114.65121.00134.00
Cumbria53.6052.9057.5058.0059.2056.80
Derbyshire112.90125.60109.20107.50108.50117.00
Devon and Cornwall141.76141.60149.10150.30151.10148.50
Dorset60.8662.5666.7970.2967.6467.43
Durham87.5089.5096.7095.8391.5086.70
Dyfed Powys43.2042.7049.1046.7048.1055.10
Essex116.80112.90120.11120.20115.00111.30
Gloucestershire55.4054.9959.6959.1955.7654.76
Gwent65.6065.1067.3065.3052.1063.10
Hampshire175.90168.50190.40188.90179.90180.70
Hertfordshire71.9972.7071.7075.1071.1070.20
Humberside135.39131.89147.91147.68146.91145.01
Kent152.15144.40146.20145.53142.13132.34
Lancashire243.50237.10253.20250.40241.10238.70
Leicestershire134.20140.80138.20134.70136.10152.50
Lincolnshire57.6064.0063.6064.4063.1070.50
London864.80874.60835.41834.54820.07829.74
Greater Manchester370.20373.20404.40406.26402.21385.81
Merseyside242.03237.43268.43267.24264.24262.20
Norfolk80.8877.6879.8582.6080.1679.89
North Yorkshire78.3075.2088.6093.6088.6079.50
North Wales71.8072.8084.2083.2083.7089.10
Northamptonshire59.0065.0066.6372.5470.9969.91
Northumbria251.80274.06267.95263.76259.16257.20
Nottinghamshire156.18168.02166.11165.91161.01155.60
South Wales169.60169.70195.90191.48188.50213.20
South Yorkshire196.80195.50212.70208.10203.90203.80
Staffordshire148.40156.40152.30152.70151.60165.10
Suffolk82.2582.8083.0083.4083.5880.96
Surrey62.5062.1068.3066.6769.8568.75
Sussex128.41127.79128.74128.84129.70126.51
Teesside74.3584.8587.6587.2495.9095.00
Thames Valley175.00169.30176.40175.80164.00171.40
Warwickshire52.8055.1551.3352.9354.0660.77
West Mercia121.84142.58141.30138.10137.10150.10
West Midlands403.97447.50444.50446.30443.50441.50
West Yorkshire321.16320.58343.37331.88335.37320.56
Wiltshire44.1041.5044.3043.3039.3039.30
Total6,257.326,376.486,584.946,566.636,469.846,529.41

 
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(b) Probation Service Officers in post by area

2003–04
Quarter 1Quarter 2Quarter 3Quarter 4
Avon and Somerset173.10218.60220.60
Bedfordshire41.8141.8139.80
Cambridgeshire55.9060.5865.69
Cheshire84.1090.2088.80
Cumbria42.4841.0238.25
Derbyshire95.40104.40108.20
Devon and Cornwall151.80145.71139.90
Dorset58.8059.8059.49
Durham97.4096.8096.10
Dyfed Powys36.0337.0036.20
Essex175.90173.70168.50
Gloucestershire40.5238.5839.30
Gwent65.6067.5068.80
Hampshire134.88130.38125.40
Hertfordshire55.8053.9552.30
Humberside107.90114.23115.81
Kent147.78143.29149.39
Lancashire151.50146.50146.60
Leicestershire119.70137.30144.75
Lincolnshire74.5081.4881.29
London617.00665.50704.50
Greater Manchester312.20322.10298.06
Merseyside208.70211.50199.07
Norfolk67.1679.3079.20
North Yorkshire38.0046.3040.30
North Wales77.6082.6085.60
Northamptonshire74.5069.0068.00
Northumbria164.60167.10168.10
Nottinghamshire119.80122.80118.00
South Wales130.70130.35138.10
South Yorkshire184.35189.70186.66
Staffordshire76.0078.5080.60
Suffolk58.4259.5461.63
Surrey82.4087.0087.50
Sussex69.7188.0099.70
Teesside128.60122.80122.90
Thames Valley191.40204.80210.20
Warwickshire29.9029.7028.66
West Mercia80.5495.1193.83
West Midlands238.80207.20215.10
West Yorkshire303.21317.27306.95
Wiltshire39.8027.0039.00
Total4,752.405,204.295,386.005,416.83

 
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1744W
 


2004–05
2005–06
Quarter 1Quarter 2Quarter 3Quarter 4Quarter 1Quarter 2
Avon and Somerset167.40162.90172.90185.20191.30191.30
Bedfordshire43.8029.1527.2032.2030.2031.20
Cambridgeshire67.0661.8766.6266.4173.7277.25
Cheshire81.2092.1083.0089.9891.60107.80
Cumbria39.2538.7941.9245.1147.8848.57
Derbyshire98.50105.00101.70111.90113.30119.00
Devon and Cornwall136.40127.50131.00140.20136.60136.50
Dorset63.2059.6863.8062.1361.0267.99
Durham98.10105.70107.70117.31115.93114.63
Dyfed Powys37.0037.4038.8839.8741.1140.59
Essex177.50175.10185.64189.90167.85173.30
Gloucestershire38.5441.9642.6541.6548.0445.96
Gwent63.8067.3066.5065.1075.5070.10
Hampshire125.40126.54115.40121.07147.80152.20
Hertfordshire53.3058.1058.2061.9064.4064.30
Humberside133.55134.17142.22141.18147.62155.33
Kent149.15148.33149.39160.83157.42155.19
Lancashire147.80150.00145.70142.65141.41144.70
Leicestershire157.15174.15175.40175.40185.30189.90
Lincolnshire78.4876.5074.1673.9670.8872.49
London695.30686.30674.23707.34722.61747.44
Greater Manchester318.40321.92320.36331.05342.83345.79
Merseyside206.64207.64210.21213.13214.54215.87
Norfolk79.3080.5181.2883.2987.2793.56
North Yorkshire45.6041.1041.6060.1060.10. 50.26
North Wales82.4074.2073.8080.2081.6074.80
Northamptonshire69.0069.0061.5463.4461.5460.09
Northumbria165.70168.10167.10170.10171.10174.10
Nottinghamshire131.86143.41164.81167.90177.07180.00
South Wales131.50147.40158.10160.30165.80166.90
South Yorkshire187.70203.32205.80207.40208.00212.40
Staffordshire82.6082.7090.1091.0091.1092.50
Suffolk52.6053.3363.4470.6770.5676.20
Surrey87.3097.50100.70106.90111.75113.10
Sussex111.94108.37116.11125.00124.06135.79
Teesside123.20123.10122.80125.47133.00132.40
Thames Valley198.35203.85213.00215.70215.90212.70
Warwickshire30.2032.3833.9735.1536.1933.88
West Mercia91.83100.1193.70101.0099.9098.30
West Midlands279.22260.90290.10327.40337.40360.57
West Yorkshire303.05296.98308.63302.40301.75311.95
Wiltshire37.5037.3042.5041.1042.1042.10
Total5,467.775,511.665,623.865,849.995,965.056,089.00

 
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1745W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what matters relating to (a) the probation service and (b) the Prison Service in Wales are reserved matters. [48981]

Fiona Mactaggart [holding answer 6 February 2006]: The probation service and the Prison Service are not devolved. However the National Offender Management Service works closely with the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of any activity that touches on devolved matters (such as health services in prison), and under the Children Act 2004 the Assembly will be able, with the consent of the Home Secretary, to issue guidance to local probation boards and youth offending teams on co-operating with other public bodies in their area with a view to improving the well-being of children.

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of staff were employed in an operational capacity within the National Probation Service in England and Wales at the end of each of the past five financial years. [48451]

Fiona Mactaggart: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to one April 2003 is unreliable, and is not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. The figures presented in the table show the proportion of staff, in terms of full time equivalent value, employed in an operational capacity at the close of each quarter from one April 2003 to 30 September 2005.

Operational staff in the National Probation Service operate in multi-disciplinary teams including dedicated support staff. For this reason figures have been provided showing both the number of operational staff, and the number of support staff dedicated to operational service teams. The total of these two staff groups gives an accurate representation of the total resource applied to operational services. The total of these two staff groups gives an accurate representation of the total resource applied to operational services.
Operational staffSupport staff (Ops Services)Total operational staffOps staff as percentage of total staff
2003–04
Quarter 112,869.703,391.5016,261.2091.60
Quarter 213,419.3913,312.2216,731.6191.57
Quarter 314,208.523,432.6417,641.1692.05
Quarter 414,249.913,428.6617,678.5792.10
2004–05
Quarter 114,142.253,421.7517,564.0091.98
Quarter 214,086.673,423.6017,510.2791.84
Quarter 314,559.933,292.2817,852.2191.44
Quarter 414,765.003,317.9018,082.9091.53
2005–06
Quarter 114,708.013,442.4418,150.4591.41
Quarter 214,781.503,549.7718,331.2791.22

 
13 Feb 2006 : Column 1746W
 


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