| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
14 Feb 2006 : Column 2003W—continued
Scottish Intelligence Database
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the potential for the Scottish Intelligence Database to satisfy the recommendations of the Bichard Report. [49205]
Hazel Blears: The police service requirement, as articulated in the first progress report on the implementation of the Bichard Inquiry Recommendations, is for an information sharing, as well as intelligence sharing, capability. In developing the business case for the programme, we are looking at a number of options including whether an intelligence database might contribute to the requirement. In that context we have been taking into account the functionality offered by the Scottish Intelligence Database.
Secure Training Centres
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take following the Commission for Social Care Inspection report on Oakhill Secure Training Centre; and if he will make a statement. [40416]
Fiona Mactaggart:
Following the Commission's annual inspection of Oakhill in May 2005, the centre's operator drew up an action plan to achieve improvements, which it agreed with the Youth Justice Board. Progress against the plan is reviewed regularly. At the board's request, the Commission's inspectors
14 Feb 2006 : Column 2004W
made a further, unannounced, visit to Oakhill at the end of November, during which they assessed progress against the action plan as well as the overall effectiveness of the centre. Following the visit, the Commission wrote to the board confirming that Oakhill is a safe and secure environment for the children placed there. The operator is reviewing the action plan, in consultation with the board, in order to achieve further improvements; and the board is continuing to monitor the centre's performance closely.
Service Personnel (Criminal Convictions)
Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those convicted of a criminal offence in the last year for which figures are available were serving in the armed forces at the time of their offence. [49472]
Hazel Blears [holding answer 7 February 2006]: It is not possible to identify cases where those convicted of a criminal offence were serving in the armed forces, as this information is not held centrally by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform or by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA).
Sex Offenders
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce proposals to increase the obligations on convicted sex offenders relating to their ongoing contact with the police. [51793]
Paul Goggins: The notification requirements—which are commonly known as the sex offenders register—originally came into force on 1 September 1997. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 repealed and re-enacted those requirements with considerable amendments.
An offender who becomes subject to the notification requirements must, within three days of conviction or caution, notify the police, in person and at a prescribed police station: of his name, address, date of birth and national insurance number; of any change to their name or their address; if they spend seven days or more (whether consecutively or within a 12 month period) at an address they have not already notified to the police; and of any overseas travel for a period of three days or more.
All offenders must ensure that they re-confirm their notified details at least once every 12 months. If an offender fails to comply with these notification requirements then he commits a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
We continue to monitor closely the effectiveness of the notification requirements and we will act if further obligations are shown to be necessary and proportionate.
Sex Shops
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers local authorities have to refuse to license new sex shops in their areas. [51079]
Paul Goggins:
The main powers for local authorities to control sex shops are contained in the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982. It is adoptive legislation and it is for a local authority to
14 Feb 2006 : Column 2005W
decide whether to apply it to their area. Schedule three provides for the control and licensing of sex establishments. The powers to refuse to grant or renew licences are contained in paragraph 12. The grounds for refusal include: consideration of the suitability of the applicant and of the locality of the premises to be licensed. It is for local authorities to determine how many licences to grant in a locality and they may decide that nil is an appropriate number.
Stronger Safer Communities Fund
Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was allocated to Swindon from the stronger safer communities fund in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06; and how much is planned to be allocated in 2006–07. [49412]
Hazel Blears:
The Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF), which merges some central Government funding streams, is to be rolled out to all areas in England on 1 April 2006. The Home Office contribution to SSCF includes the building safer communities fund. The Swindon Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) was allocated a total of £217,179 from the building safer communities fund in 2004–05.
14 Feb 2006 : Column 2006W
This included a £25,000 grant towards the cost of an antisocial behaviour co-ordinator. The same amount was allocated in 2005–06.
No SSCF funding has been given to Swindon from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in either of those financial years.
Details of funding for 2006–07 have yet to be announced.
Under-age Drinking
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place for underage drinking in Uxbridge in each year since 1990. [48519]
Hazel Blears: There is no specific offence of under-age drinking.
However, the available information from the Court Proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, gives the number of defendants aged 10–17 years who were proceeded against in Uxbridge PSA, for offences of being drunk, drunk at a designated sports event and drunk and disorderly together with defendants proceeded against for the offence of: Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises", 1990–2004. Please see following table.
Statistics for 2005 will be available in the autumn.
(66) These data are on the principal offence basis
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |