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Table 3: Sexual offences recorded by the police—2002-03( 1) to 2005-06
Police force area	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Avon and Somerset	1,570	1,516	1,914	1,533
Bedfordshire	465	516	622	688
Cambridgeshire	694	736	766	799
Cheshire	537	696	927	979
Cleveland	519	767	805	725
Cumbria	214	293	337	358
Derbyshire	882	920	1,160	1,117
Devon and Cornwall	1,149	1,336	1,564	1,527
Dorset	498	579	689	802
Durham	341	362	397	694
Dyfed-Powys	274	434	503	440
Essex	1,165	1,296	1,347	1,371
Gloucestershire	409	403	539	670
Greater Manchester	2,819	3,200	3,470	3,319
Gwent	486	404	560	548
Hampshire	1,810	2,034	2,658	2,701
Hertfordshire	553	644	971	983
Humberside	1,095	1,269	1,403	1,413
Kent	947	1,220	1,766	1,900
Lancashire	1,069	1,337	1,632	1,505
Leicestershire	960	1,000	1,372	1,361
Lincolnshire	583	636	816	703
London, City of	34	30	50	55
Merseyside	1,277	1,284	1,442	1,390
Metropolitan Police	10,410	10,200	10,860	10,293
Norfolk	676	774	889	1,474
Northamptonshire	608	544	642	633
Northumbria	1,371	1,360	1,496	1,431
North Wales	555	569	666	628
North Yorkshire	448	502	557	637
Nottinghamshire	978	1,055	1,294	1,343
South Wales	717	714	866	1,054
South Yorkshire	851	938	1,382	1,543
Staffordshire	963	1,025	1,323	1,306
Suffolk	588	641	620	664
Surrey	598	585	820	765
Sussex	1,148	1,201	1,801	1,655
Thames Valley	1,469	1,618	2,096	2,123
Warwickshire	277	349	435	382
West Mercia	923	949	1,139	1,014
West Midlands	3,033	3,207	3,470	3,483
West Yorkshire	2,106	2,343	2,351	2,522
Wiltshire	558	584	525	580
Total	48,627	52,070	60,942	61,111
(1 )The Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced in May 2004 altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences, in particular, it redefined indecent exposure as a sexual offence. Note: 1. Numbers of recorded crime were affected by changes in reporting and recording following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These data are not comparable with earlier years.

Counter-terrorism: East Sussex

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what counter-terrorist exercises took place in East Sussex in each of the last five years. [141830]

Mr. McNulty: Since 2002, the Home Office has sponsored two table-top (non-live play) exercises, in March 2004 and in December 2006, and one live-play exercise (in conjunction with Surrey police) during March 2007 (Exercise LION’S KEEP), in Sussex. Details of other locally organised counter-terrorism exercises in which Sussex may have taken part during this period are not held centrally by the Home Office.

Vehicle Crime Reduction Team

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effect that the decision to close the Vehicle Crime Reduction team will have upon rates of theft of (a) motorcycles and (b) motorcycle parts; and if he will make a statement; [142411]

(2) what considerations were taken into account before taking the decision to close down the Vehicle Crime Reduction Team; and if he will make a statement. [142412]

14 Jun 2007 : Column 1245W

Mr. Coaker: The decision to wind down the Home Office Vehicle Crime Reduction Team was taken as part of the Home Office Reform Programme and in the context of developing a new strategic approach to crime reduction.

We do not believe the decision to wind down the Home Office team will have an adverse impact on the theft rates of motorcycles or motorcycle parts. Front-line practitioners are experienced in implementing initiatives to deal with vehicle crime, including thefts of motorcycles. This includes providing relevant crime prevention advice and making use of the Motor Salvage (Operators) Regulations 2002 to drive criminals out of the motor salvage industry to prevent vehicles, including motorcycles, being stolen for their parts.

Performance management arrangements will ensure that the significant gains made to date in this area are sustained.

Written Questions

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to answer Question 125175, on repatriation of failed asylum seekers, tabled by the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green on 28 February. [130618]

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 29 March 2007]: I replied to the hon. Member on 6 June 2007, Official Repor t, column 609W.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to answer Question 126828, on migrant workers, tabled by the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham on 7 March. [135525]

Mr. Byrne: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 June 2007, Official Report, column 678W.

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