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15 Dec 2008 : Column 502W—continued
Jacqui Smith:
The Government have made a number of such assessments. In the most recently published report? The impact of the Licensing Act 2003
on levels of crime and disorder: an evaluation (2008) by Hough et al, it was found that crimes involving serious violent crime may have reduced and local residents were less likely to say that drunk and rowdy behaviour was a problem.
As I have stated, the Government are determined to crack down further on alcohol related crime and disorder, this is why I announced last week a new mandatory code of practice to target the most irresponsible retail practices, a £3 million cash injection for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships for enforcement activities in 190 areas and a further £1.5 million for our priority areas.
21. Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to combat alcohol-induced crime. [242986]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Government have made a number of such assessments. In the most recently published report, ‘The impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on Levels of Crime and Disorder: An Evaluation’ (2008) by Hough et al, it was found that crimes involving serious violent crime may have reduced and local residents were less likely to say that drunk and rowdy behaviour was a problem.
As I have stated, the Government are determined to crack down further on alcohol related crime and disorder, this is why I announced last week a new mandatory code of practice to target the most irresponsible retail practices, a £3 million cash injection for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships for enforcement activities in 190 areas and a further £1.5 million for our priority areas.
Kingsnorth Climate Camp
15. David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues since 27 October 2008 on the policing of the Kingsnorth climate camp. [242979]
Mr. Coaker: I have had no discussions with ministerial colleagues on the policing of the Kingsnorth Climate Camp since 27 October 2008.
Policing Pledge
16. Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of progress towards delivering the policing pledge. [242980]
Mr. Coaker: The policing pledge is an essential part of the reform programme to increase public confidence in how crime is tackled and justice delivered. That is why I am delighted that all 43 chief constables have committed to deliver the pledge by the end of the year.
Police Entry, Search and Seizure Powers
18. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received from police officers on police powers of entry, search and seizure; and if she will make a statement. [242983]
Mr. Coaker: We have received 44 responses from police officers and policing organisations to the public consultation on the Review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and these include comments on powers of entry search and seizure.
The consultation period ended on 28 November 2008 and a summary of responses will be published early in the new year on the Home Office website.
Early Intervention Strategies Violent Crime
19. Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research she has evaluated on the effect of early intervention strategies on levels of violent crime, with particular reference to Nottingham; and if she will make a statement. [242984]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Department for Children Schools and Families has evaluated recent interventions such as family intervention projects, including those currently running in Nottingham. It shows that, among other things, intervening early with families can help to reduce levels of domestic violence and antisocial behaviour.
DNA
22. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to destroy DNA samples taken from people subsequently not convicted of the crime of which they were suspected. [242987]
Mr. Alan Campbell: DNA and fingerprints play an invaluable role in fighting crime. We are carefully considering how best to give effect to the recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights.
We recognise the importance of the judgment and will publish our response to the court’s findings as soon as possible.
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings her Department and members of the Alcohol Education and Research Council have held to discuss her Department’s 2008 advertising campaign to combat binge drinking. [242216]
Mr. Alan Campbell: There have been no meetings between Home Office officials and members of the Alcohol Education and Research Council to discuss the advertising campaign to combat binge drinking.
Alcoholic Drinks: Young People
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retailers have been prosecuted for persistently selling alcohol to a person under 18 years old in each of the last five years. [240546]
Mr. Alan Campbell: No data are currently available. Section 147A of the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006) came into effect on 1 April 2008. Court Proceedings data for 2008 will be available in autumn 2009.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Kent
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) issued and (b) breached in (i) Ashford constituency and (ii) Kent since 1 January 2005. [243121]
Mr. Alan Campbell: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) became available from April 1999. Data on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued and breached are currently available up to 31 December 2006 and are not compiled below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level.
Between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006, 73 ASBOs were issued in the Kent Criminal Justice System (CJS) area. There were 16 ASBOs that had originally been issued by courts in the Kent CJS area, proven in court to have been breached for the first time during 2005 and 2006.
Acceptable Behaviour Contracts: Young People
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many acceptable behaviour contracts have been issued to young people drinking and behaving anti-socially in public in each of the last five years. [240539]
Mr. Alan Campbell: Data on acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) are not collected by the Home Office as they are voluntary agreements and therefore not suitable for central data collection. Surveys carried out by the Home Office of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) indicated that over 25,000 ABCs have been made since October 2003.
A National Audit Office study in December 2006 found that such interventions were highly effective in combating antisocial behaviour. 65 per cent. of people stopped behaving antisocially after one intervention; 86 per cent. after two; and 93 per cent. after three.
Asylum: Interpreters
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claimants did not have the services of an interpreter offered to them in proceedings relating to their claim in the last five years. [241413]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 9 December 2008]: The UK Border Agency and Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) offers all asylum seekers the services of an interpreter at public expense whenever it is considered necessary in connection with proceedings relating to their application or appeal.
Belmarsh Prison
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are detained under her instruction at HM Prison Belmarsh; for how long each has been detained; and when she expects each to be released. [240998]
Mr. Woolas: Information relating to individuals serving custodial sentences in prisons or who are detained for other reasons is held and collated by the Ministry of Justice. In order to obtain the requested information, so as to identify where individuals are detained, it would be necessary to examine individual Home Office and UK Border Agency records at disproportionate cost
Climate Change
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of its capacity to adapt to climate change; and what plans she has to publish a climate change adaptation strategy. [241180]
Mr. Woolas: The Home Office participates in the Defra-led Climate Change Adaptation Programme Board. The main climate change-related issues for the Home Office are developing an estate that is resilient to climate change and ensuring that the police are prepared for the impact of a changing climate, in terms of business continuity and crime prevention and detection. The Home Office commitments and priorities are set out on the Defra climate change website:
There are no plans to publish a Home Office climate change strategy at this stage.
Closed Circuit Television: Crime Prevention
Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the contribution closed circuit television can make to tackling crime. [242965]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Government support the use of closed circuit television in tackling and reducing crime. CCTV is most effective when used along side other measures.
CCTV can also assist the detection of crime in public places and provide evidential material in identifying offenders.
A recent report by the Campbell Crime and Justice Group
which includes UK membership and whose review was part funded by the Home Office, included the observation that CCTV is more effective in reducing crime in the UK than in other countries.
Crimes of Violence: Kent
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of violence against the person were recorded (a) in total and (b) per 100 population in (i) Ashford constituency and (ii) Kent police area in each year between 1997 and 2008. [243115]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The available information is given in the following tables.
Police recorded crime statistics are not collected at constituency level, therefore figures for the Ashford Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) have been provided. CDRP figures are only available from 1999-2000 to 2007-08.
These statistics have been presented in a series of separate tables to show why data are not directly comparable over the period 1997 to 2008.
| Table 1: Violence against the person offences recorded by the police—1997 | ||
| Number of offences and rate per 1,000 population | ||
| Offence | Number of offences | Rate per 1,000 population |
| n/a = Not available | ||
| Table 2: Violence against the person offences recorded by the police—1998-99 to 2001-02 | ||
| Number of offences and rate per 1,000 population | ||
| Offence | Number of offences | Rate per 1,000 population |
| n/a = Not available. Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997. 2. The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. | ||
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