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20 July 2006 : Column 608W—continued
DNA Database
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 281W, on the National DNA Database, (1) if he will break down by country the number of requests made; [80870]
(2) how many of the requests were complied with; [80871]
(3) on what basis such information is provided; and if he will make a statement; [80872]
(4) for what reasons such requests have been (a) made and (b) granted; and what criteria are used to decide whether to grant such a request. [84088]
Joan Ryan
[holding answer 28 June 2006]: The majority of requests for the exchange of DNA information between the United Kingdom and other countries are routed
through the United Kingdom National Central Bureau for Interpol (UK NCB) based at the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). Other channels may include bi-lateral direct liaison between law enforcement authorities: and formal mutual legal assistance channels. Exchanges of DNA information via these channels will almost always be a response to the needs of a specific criminal investigation.
Requests from international law enforcement agencies for a search of the National DNA Database are only processed where it is clear that the request is in the interest of prevention and detection of crime, national security or the data subject. They are also subject to a risk assessment, taking into account the justification for and proportionality of disclosure of the information in line with human rights. If cleared for processing, a one-off speculative search of the Database is made by the Custodian and information fed back to UK NCB.
The UK NCB is not currently able to provide data on the number of requests received from other countries but only on the number of requests processed and dealt with by the Database Custodian. As indicated in the answer of 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 281W, 519 search requests have been dealt with by the Database Custodian since 2004 and responses provided back to UK NCB in each case (this includes searches of the UK DNA Database at the request of other countries as well as preparing profiles in order for UK law enforcement agencies to request searches overseas).
Data on the countries to which DNA profiles have been sent and on the number of profiles sent to other countries in pursuit of specific criminal investigations could only be provided at disproportionate cost as the majority of the data are not currently held electronically. This information will be available later this year following the introduction of a new data collection system (this will not apply to retrospective data). However, it is estimated that international DNA searches are requested on two to three occasions each week (this includes requests received from abroad and requests made by the UK for searches in other countries).
Data are not collected on the number of exchanges of DNA information which occur through direct liaison between law enforcement authorities or formal mutual legal assistance channels.
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have had their DNA records removed from the police DNA database in each year since 2000. [82550]
Joan Ryan: The number of profiles relating to individuals removed from the National DNA Database in each year since 2000 is:
| Number of profiles relating to individuals removed | |
Drugs
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the take-out quantities of class A drugs for the Concerted Inter-Agency Drug Action Group were in each year since collection began. [67893]
Mr. Coaker: CIDA agencies have been involved in the seizure of the following quantities of class A drugs:
| Cocaine (kg) | Heroin (kg) | Ecstasy (tablets) | |
Foreign Criminal Releases
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of police hours taken to trace foreign criminals released without consideration for deportation since the issue was identified. [77123]
John Reid: The level of detail requested by the hon. Gentleman is not required under the annual data return that must be submitted to the Department by police forces in England and Wales. We would not wish to impose additional burdens on police forces by asking them to carry out such ad hoc surveys. The police continue to play a key role in working with all other relevant agencies to pursue those cases where foreign national prisoners were released without due consideration.
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of the report produced by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, entitled ‘Mind the (level 2) gap’, in the Library. [54055]
Mr. McNulty: This is a confidential report to Ministers only and, therefore, a copy will not be placed in the Library.
Human Trafficking
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a nationwide adoption of standardised protocols aimed at increasing human trafficking victims identification and protection in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [80351]
Mr. Coaker: The question of a national referral mechanism is one which is under consideration as part of the current discussions as a result of the responses received to our consultation paper “Tackling Human Trafficking”. We recognise that prompt and accurate identification of victims of trafficking is essential to the provision of appropriate care and support services to the victims of human trafficking.
To this end we have both developed, in consultation with non-government organisations, a best practice toolkit for front line immigration and police officers and other professionals who may come into contact with potential victims, and continue to work in partnership with the voluntary and community sector to establish a framework of support for victims who have been trafficked into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
Additionally we launched on 21 June, the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC). The establishment of UKHTC came as a result of the success of operation Pentameter, a national police led multi-agency operation which aimed to tackle trafficking for sexual exploitation and which led to 234 people being arrested. Of these 132 people have been charged, to date, with offences connected to trafficking.
Following on from the success of Operation Pentameter the UKHTC will support the overarching aim of moving the United Kingdom to a leading position in relation to the prevention and investigation of trafficking in human beings. It will also become a central point for the development of police expertise and operational co-ordination.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is available for policemen to help them identify and detect victims of trafficking. [87078]
Mr. Coaker: We have developed an online people trafficking tool-kit to enable front line police among other relevant personnel to work appropriately and effectively with victims of trafficking.
Improvements in training for police in the identification and detection of victims of trafficking is currently under consideration as part of the discussions on the UK Action Plan against trafficking which is due to be published later in the year.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that each police force has an officer (a) trained and (b) designated to deal with trafficked children and women. [87081]
Mr. Coaker: The proposal that each force should have a trained and designated officer is one that is currently under consideration for inclusion in the UK Action Plan which is due to be published later in the year.
We recognise that there is a need for a more corporate response within the police service to tackling human trafficking. To this end we recently announced the establishment of the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) which will become operational from 2 October 2006. It will be overseen by an ACPO/multi-agency group which will include representatives from non-governmental organisations.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a substantive answer to question 85722, tabled on 11 July 2006 for answer on 14 July 2006, on Operation Pentameter; and
if he will provide before the summer adjournment a substantive answer to that part of question 85722 which relates to the country of origin of trafficked minors. [86881]
Mr. Coaker: From the 12 minors rescued from Operation Pentameter three minors were repatriated to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The other minors originated from Burundi, Cameroon, Sudan, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Kenya. The minors will receive support from social services for as long as is necessary.
Identity Register
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the procurement of the National Identity Register by the Identity and Passport Service; and if he will make a statement. [85340]
Joan Ryan: The Government are committed to the rapid introduction of identity cards and the establishment of the National Identity Register but, as we have always made clear, this is an incremental process and will be implemented in a phased way. Royal Assent to the Identity Cards Act 2006 and creation of the Identity and Passport Service have enabled the Government to begin firming up plans for the delivery of the identity cards scheme including plans for procurement of the National Identity Register.
We have actively engaged the industry in dialogue about our procurement approach/options and industry feedback has been valuable in informing our emerging thinking. We will be publishing the National Identity Scheme Procurement Strategy Market Soundings Feedback Report in August 2006 and will update the market further as our plans develop.
Parliament (Protests)
Mr. Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested for protesting within a mile of Parliament since 1 August 2005. [84110]
John Reid: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has informed me that there have been 37 arrests for taking part in or organising an unauthorised demonstration in the designated area since 1 August 2005 and four arrests for failing to comply with conditions imposed by the Commissioner on a demonstration.
Passports
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2005, Official Report, columns 536-7W on passports, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) lost, (b) stolen and (c) unavailable passports in circulation in the UK in the last year for which figures are available. [81690]
Joan Ryan: IPS processed the following reports of (a) loss, (b) theft and (c) other, of a passport for the calendar year of 2005:
| 2005 | |
| Number | |
| 2006 | |
| Number | |
| (1) “Other” includes passports reported as damaged or destroyed. | |
Prisons
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) suicides and (b) incidents of non-fatal self-harm have occurred in (i) adult prisons, (ii) young offender institutions and (iii) juvenile custody units in England and Wales in each of the last nine years for which figures are available. [83360]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The information requested with respect to apparent self-inflicted deaths is shown in the following table.
| Number | |||||||||
| Establishment type | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| (1) ‘Prison’ includes category B locals, male and female closed establishments, category C prisons, dispersal prisons, mixed locals, open prisons, semi-open prisons, remand centres and holding centres. (2 )Juvenile custody includes juvenile prisons, Secure Training Centres (STCs) and Secure Children's Homes (SCHs). Note: The table above shows the number of apparent self-inflicted deaths. This includes all deaths where it appears the individual acted specifically to take their own life, not only those that received a suicide or open verdict at inquest. | |||||||||
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