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26 Jun 2007 : Column 731W—continued
Vehicle Number Plates
Chris Grayling:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the number of drivers falsely accused of motoring offences because of the fraudulent cloning of number
plates in the latest period for which figures are available; [144799]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of drivers falsely accused of motoring offences due to inaccuracies in the automated number plate recognition database in the latest period for which figures are available; [144800]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of motoring offences that the police have been unable to pursue due to inaccuracies in the automated number plate recognition database. [144801]
Mr. Coaker: It is not possible to estimate the number of drivers falsely accused of motoring offences because of the fraudulent cloning of number plates; the number of drivers falsely accused of motoring offences due to inaccuracies in automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) databases or the number of motoring offences that the police have been unable to pursue due to inaccuracies in the ANPR database as these figures are not collected centrally. ANPR is used as the starting point to investigate offences and is not in itself used to press charges or comment on prosecutions.
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the merits of the pilot scheme Operation Laser using automatic number plate recognition; which police forces are participating in the pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement. [145435]
Mr. McNulty: Since the first Home Office pilot began in 2002, the police use of ANPR technology has resulted in more than 50,000 arrests; ANPR has now been rolled out across all police forces in England and Wales. Significantly, in the last three years it has delivered two to three times more ‘offences brought to justice' (OBtJ) when compared to conventional policing methods. Much of this success is attributable to police intercept teams operating at the roadside although more recently, the benefits of ANPR as a police-intelligence and investigation tool has been realised by its ability to identify vehicles linked to many different types of criminal offending. It has consistently impacted on criminal activity at all levels, but particularly that involving drugs, cross-border crime and disqualified driving. With the help of new enabling-legislation, police ANPR intercept teams have been extremely effective in seizing vehicles for document offences.
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) assumed policy and operational oversight for ANPR from April this year. It is now seeking to embed the learning from the ANPR pilots into mainstream policing practice within police forces.
Vehicle Number Plates: Fraud
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of crimes involving number plate fraud in the latest period for which figures are available. [144797]
Mr. McNulty: The information requested is not centrally available
Vehicle Number Plates: Legal Opinion
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received on the legality of automatic number plate recognition systems. [145434]
Mr. McNulty: All data gathered by the police using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) are covered by existing legislation. Home Office officials have been working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to ensure that information collected by ANPR technologies and retained by the police is cognisant of the relevant data protection legislation. The ACPO guidance is designed to ensure that the principles detailed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are followed by all police forces.
Vehicle Number Plates: Theft
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the level of number plate theft in the latest period for which figures are available. [144798]
Mr. McNulty: Latest published figures from the 2004-05 British Crime survey show that number plates were stolen in 1.9 per cent. of all thefts from vehicles, and in 5 per cent. of thefts where vehicle external fittings were stolen.
Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how money which has been sent to detainees at Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre is (a) secured and (b) accounted for; and how many complaints were made about missing amounts in each of the last three years. [144846]
Mr. Byrne: Detainees at Yarl’s Wood hold their own money in possession. The centre has facilities to store monies and valuables on their behalf should they require it. There have been no complaints recorded relating to missing money.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the treatment of detainees at Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre in terms of (a) access to medical records, (b) curtailment of effective visiting time, (c) quality of food and service of food, (d) choice in the provision of sanitary products, (e) treatment of visitors, (f) availability of telephone and fax services, (g) access to advice and information and (h) availability of stationery and postage stamps; and if he will make a statement. [145164]
Mr. Byrne: The provision of services to detainees at Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre is subject to self audit by Serco which operates the centre under contract to the Border and Immigration Agency. The self audit process is in turn audited by Border and Immigration Agency staff and is subject to routine monitoring and scrutiny by the Border and Immigration Agency managers in the site monitoring team. There is also an Independent Monitoring Board that has unrestricted access to the centre 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and also has direct access to the Secretary of State’s office. The establishment is also subject to regular inspection by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons. Whenever issues arise concerning the provision of services including those listed in the question, both the on site Border and Immigration Agency staff and the contractor are committed to resolving concerns and improving systems accordingly. Since 26 April 2007 Serco has only received one complaint, this was in relation to the availability of telephone and fax services, and this was addressed immediately.
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