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4 July 2007 : Column 1045W—continued



4 July 2007 : Column 1046W
Table 3: total offences recorded by the police—2002-03 to 2005-06
Sunderland CDRP Northumbria police force area

2002-03

38,196

165,496

2003-04

34,612

157,051

2004-05

30,447

142,122

2005-06

28,429

131,968

Note:
The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crimestoppers

Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent discussions she has had on Crimestoppers; and what steps she is taking to promote and increase awareness of the service; [146579]

(2) how many people were arrested in each of the last five years as a result of information supplied to Crimestoppers. [146580]

Mr. Coaker: Information on the number of arrests as a result of information supplied to Crimestoppers is not collected centrally by the Home Office. A Home Office evaluation ‘Evaluating the impact of Crimestoppers’ Home Office Online Report 22/03 stated that for the year 2000 there were 5,423 successful outcomes (arrested, charged or cautioned) approximately 9 per cent. of all actionable calls. However, the actual number of positive results is higher, as there is widespread under-reporting of feedback. The report estimated this figure as close to 9,614.

The former Home Secretary last met the Chief Executive of Crimestoppers on 25 April. The Home Office continues to support Crimestoppers through the terms of the Strategic Partnership Agreement which runs from 1 December 2004 to 31 March 2008.

Departments: European Union

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in her Department are (a) involved in assisting European Council negotiations, (b) involved in assisting and advising the European Commission, (c) seconded to the European Commission, (d) involved in monitoring EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives, (e) involved in enforcing compliance with EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives and (f) involved in other work related to the European Council, Commission or Court of Justice. [146094]

Meg Hillier: Officials throughout the Home Office are involved in a full range of EU business. Those working specifically on EU business in its International Directorate currently total 19. The Border and Immigration Agency has a European and International Policy Unit, which has a total of 21 staff working on European related matters. A breakdown of the figures as requested would incur disproportionate cost.


4 July 2007 : Column 1047W

Departments: Pay

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working at her Department and its agencies in each year between 1997 and 2006; and what the total cost of those bonuses was. [146421]

Mr. Byrne: Senior civil service bonuses reward, and provide incentives for, delivery of key results. Under current arrangements, bonuses are used to reward performance during the year, and are based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. Records of bonus payments made to SCS members are only available from 2002.

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

Europol

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government’s policy is on the proposals to provide Europol with access to commercial data in the absence of a specific and credible threat; and if she will make a statement. [146867]

Meg Hillier: At present there are no formal agreements between Europol and public or private entities relating to the provision of commercial data to Europol. The Europol Information System can only be used to process data that relate to persons who are suspected of having committed or suspected of having taken part in a crime in contravention of the national law of that country, or where there are factual indicators that they will commit such an offence.

A new legal instrument to regulate Europol’s activities is currently under negotiation in the Justice and Home Affairs Council. In the context of that negotiation, the question of the provision of commercial data to Europol has yet to be discussed. However, the Government’s view is that where that would involve the processing of personal data from public or private entities, it must take place exclusively via the Europol national units. The Government also believe where it is reasonable and necessary for Europol to be able to process data there must be adequate safeguards to ensure that such data are relevant for its tasks.

Proof of Age Cards

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the (a) availability and (b) misuse of fake proof of age cards; and if she will make a statement. [146966]


4 July 2007 : Column 1048W

Mr. Coaker: It is the responsibility of retailers to ensure that they have adequate procedures in place to prevent alcohol being sold to people aged under 18 and that their staff are appropriately trained, to enforce this. Many retailers have now adopted a ‘Think 21’ policy, where anyone appearing to be under 21 should be asked for identification prior to any sale of alcohol, which will prevent an offence being committed. Valid forms of identification include a passport or a driving licence with a photo.

The Home Office also supports the Proof of Age Standards (PASS) scheme, which establishes a common standard for issuing the various proof of age cards that are available. PASS accredited cards carry a secure hologram which helps retailers to identify genuine proof of age cards. The PASS hologram on a card is the hallmark indicating that the card issuer has passed a stringent audit carried out by Trading Standards Officers and that the card may be relied upon.

Following on from the success of the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns, since May 2007 we have been conducting a national Tackling Under Age Sales of Alcohol Campaign, which is testing whether or not retailers ask for valid identification from potential underage purchasers of alcohol.

Illegal Immigrants: Malta

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial assistance has been given to Malta for tackling illegal African immigrants coming to that country. [147000]

Mr. Byrne: The UK supports Maltese efforts to tackle illegal immigration both bilaterally and through the EU. Last year we sent a Chief Immigration Officer to Malta to assist a Frontex co-ordinated operation with nationality and identity interviewing techniques and a senior official to give advice on returning failed asylum seekers. Also in 2006 a Maltese official was seconded to Border and Immigration Agency for a week to learn about our detention centres. EU funding has recently been obtained for joint returns work with Malta, and the European Commission is currently considering a joint proposal from the UK, Italy and Malta for funding to establish a centre for migration intelligence analysts on Lampedusa and Malta. Malta also receives funding through EU financial instruments such as the European Refugee Fund.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to encourage chief constables to undertake similar exercises to Operation Foist in their areas. [147436]

Mr. Coaker: Operation Foist was an initiative of the Metropolitan Police. Adoption of similar exercises elsewhere is an operational matter for individual chief officers. I understand from the Metropolitan Police that a number of forces have been in touch with queries about the operation with a view to undertaking such measures themselves.

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of Operation Foist in the London area. [147437]


4 July 2007 : Column 1049W

Mr. Coaker: Operation Foist was an initiative of the Metropolitan Police that targeted uninsured drivers as a means of improving road safety and reducing criminality. The Metropolitan Police arranged for a review of the initiative’s effectiveness to be carried out and I am arranging for a copy of this to be placed in the Library.

Racially Aggravated Offences: Wiltshire

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what type of offences with racial motivation were recorded by Wiltshire Constabulary which (a) were taken to court and (b) resulted in convictions in each year between 1997-98 and 2005-06. [147091]


4 July 2007 : Column 1050W

Mr. Coaker: The statistics are not available in the form requested.

Recorded crime statistics relate to offences and court proceedings data relate to offenders. In addition, recorded crime data are published on a financial year basis and court proceedings data are published on a calendar year basis. For these reasons, the two data sources are therefore not directly comparable.

The available information relates to racially or religiously aggravated offences and is available from 1999-2000 only. Tables 1 and 2 give the number of offences recorded by the police in Wiltshire. Data on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for all racially and religiously aggravated offences in the Wiltshire police force area are provided in Table 3.

Table 1: Recorded racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police in Wiltshire, 1999-2000 to 2001-02
Offence 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02

Racially or religiously aggravated offences of:

Less serious wounding

10

16

24

Harassment

36

65

67

Common assault

16

14

10

Criminal damage to a dwelling

2

3

9

Criminal damage to a building other than a dwelling

1

9

20

Criminal damage to a vehicle

8

8

15

Other criminal damage

4

3

4


Table 2: Recorded racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police in Wiltshire, 2002-03 to 2005-06
Offence 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06

Racially or religiously aggravated offences of:

Less serious wounding

22

35

37

37

Harassment

140

147

138

167

Common assault

17

26

13

13

Criminal damage to a dwelling

14

11

7

9

Criminal damage to a building other than a dwelling

20

14

6

17

Criminal damage to a vehicle

12

5

13

8

Other criminal damage

7

6

6

9

Note:
1. The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Table 3: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for racially and religiously aggravated offences, Wiltshire police force area, 1999 to 2005( 1, 2)
Proceeded against
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Racially or religiously aggravated offences of:

Less serious wounding

1

1

1

1

2

5

3

Harassment

17

16

16

15

26

27

49

Common assault

1

2

3

8

14

9

10

Criminal damage to a dwelling

Criminal damage to a building other than a dwelling

Criminal damage to a vehicle

Other criminal damage

2

4

2

4

3


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