Previous Section Index Home Page

4 Feb 2009 : Column 1234W—continued

Community Relations

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish the CONTEST 2 strategy. [254139]

Mr. Coaker [holding answer 3 February 2009]: An account of the Government’s long-term strategy for countering international terrorism, known within Government as CONTEST, was published in July 2006. The Home Secretary announced last October plans to revise the strategy. This revised account will be published in the spring.

Crime: Economic Situation

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account she has taken of the effect of the economic downturn on levels of crime in planning resource allocations to police forces; and if she will make a statement. [252779]


4 Feb 2009 : Column 1235W

Mr. Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams) on 14 January 2009, Official Report, column 806W.

Departmental Data Protection

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many electronic or computer files her Department and its agencies lost in transit in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [241789]

Jacqui Smith: Incidents of personal data losses are recorded centrally but the numbers of electronic and computer files contained within lost data is not recorded. To answer this question would fall into the disproportionate cost threshold.

The Home Office has publicised details of personal data related incidents notified to the Information Commissioner’s Office in 2007-08 in its Resource Accounts published in August 2008. In the first half of 2008-09 a notification was made to the Information Commissioner regarding the PA Consulting data loss incident.

Domestic Violence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2008, Official Report, column 1074W, on domestic violence, what steps are being taken to reduce the incidence of such offences. [247981]

Mr. Alan Campbell: One of the key outcomes in our National Domestic Violence Reduction Delivery Plan is to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence, particularly in high incidence areas and/or communities. We are revisiting our delivery plan to ensure a greater focus on prevention. An example would be exploring how to change attitudes and behaviours of key audiences.

One initiative which is currently being promoted through the school curriculum provides scope for education on addressing the underlying causes of violence and abuse relationships. One example is SEAL (social and emotional aspects of learning), which helps children develop their capacity to empathise, show respect and form positive relationships with other people. This can be expected to apply to any form of violent behaviour and thus prevent future incidences of domestic violence.

Forensic Science Service: Manpower

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many forensic scientists have (a) left and (b) joined the Forensic Science Service since 2001. [253168]

Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 2 February 2009]: Since 2002, the following number of forensic scientists(1) (including permanent, temporary and external employees) have (a) left and (b) joined Forensic Science Service Ltd. (FSS):


4 Feb 2009 : Column 1236W

Leavers Starters

1 June 2002 to 31 December 2002

71

99

1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003

139

105

1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004

139

100

1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005

116

112

1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006

143

73

1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007

179

48

1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008

190

153


Genetics: Databases

Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 15 September 2008, Official Report, columns 2069-70W, on genetics: databases, what her most recent estimate is of the number of DNA samples taken and loaded onto the national DNA database since 31 March 2008 which would not previously have been taken prior to the entry into force of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001; and if she will make a statement. [251165]

Mr. Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database is designed to match DNA taken from crime scenes with that taken from individuals. It does not hold information on whether those with records on it have convictions, as this is not necessary for this purpose. Some data on whether those on the NDNAD have convictions is available from the police national computer (PNC), but not as part of its routine functions and not within the cost limit for parliamentary questions. However, the National Policing Improvement Agency does obtain this information periodically and this was last done at the end of March 2008. The information is due to be obtained again at the end of March 2009.

Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many new profiles have been added to the national DNA database since December 2008, broken down by age group; how many have been added by each police force; and if she will make a statement; [251184]

(2) with reference to the answer of 5 March 2008, Official Report, columns 2669-70W, on genetics: databases, how many and what proportion of new DNA profiles added to the national DNA database in each month since 18 January 2008 relate to individuals aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 18, (c) 19 to 20, (d) 21 to 30, (e) 31 to 40, (f) 41 to 50, (g) 51 to 60 and (h) over 60 years, broken down by police force responsible for the profile being added; and if she will make a statement. [251241]

Mr. Alan Campbell: The figures given in Table 1 show the number of profiles added to the National DNA Database by English and Welsh forces during the period 1 to 22 January 2009, broken down by age group and the police force which added the profile.

The figures given in Table 2 show the number of profiles added to the National DNA Database by English and Welsh forces during the period 18 January to 31 December 2008, broken down by age group and the police force which added the profile. It is not possible to break this information down by month except at disproportionate cost.


4 Feb 2009 : Column 1237W

The age breakdown in both tables is based on the age of the subjects as at 22 January 2009. The figures show the number of profiles added to the database. Some of these may since have been deleted.

A proportion of DNA profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates, that is, a profile for a person has been loaded on more then one occasion (this may be because the person gave different names, or different versions of
4 Feb 2009 : Column 1238W
their name, on separate arrests, or because of upgrading of profiles). It is estimated that 13.3 per cent. of profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. Therefore, the number of individuals on the NDNAD is approximately 13.3 per cent. less than the number of subject profiles. The presence of these replicate profiles on the NDNAD does not impact on the effectiveness and integrity of the database.

Table 1: Age on 22 January 2009
Under 16 16-18 19-20 21-30 31-40
Profiles loaded to the NDNAD 1-22 January 2009—Force Number of subject profiles % of profiles loaded in this age group Number of subject profiles % of profiles loaded in this age group Number of subject profiles % of profiles loaded in this age group Number of subject profiles % of profiles loaded in this age group Number of subject profiles % of profiles loaded in this age group

Avon and Somerset

60

6.8

91

10.4

81

9.2

260

29.6

173

19.7

Bedfordshire

12

10.3

11

9.5

10

8.6

34

29.3

22

19.0

British Transport

16

5.6

36

12.5

17

5.9

85

29.5

70

24.3

Cambridgeshire

42

18.9

17

7.7

10

4.5

55

24.8

45

20.3

Cheshire

31

6.2

43

8.5

46

9.1

155

30.8

99

19.7

City of London

0

0.0

2

4.0

2

4.0

29

58.0

8

16.0

Cleveland

23

7.2

39

12.1

34

10.6

96

29.9

58

18.1

Cumbria

39

12.3

46

14.5

28

8.8

80

25.2

59

18.6

Derbyshire

71

12.1

82

14.0

45

7.7

139

23.7

103

17.6

Devon and Cornwall

27

8.3

38

11.7

29

8.9

106

32.5

61

18.7

Dorset

17

6.4

32

12.0

31

11.6

72

27.0

53

19.9

Durham

35

13.4

34

13.0

21

8.0

62

23.7

55

21.0

Dyfed Powys

29

12.9

19

8.5

21

9.4

66

29.5

36

16.1

Essex

95

10.9

105

12.0

75

8.6

196

22.5

182

20.8

Gloucestershire

18

8.3

17

7.8

22

10.1

70

32.3

40

18.4

Greater Manchester

113

7.8

158

10.9

124

8.5

458

31.6

284

19.6

Gwent

38

9.7

64

16.3

35

8.9

91

23.2

61

15.6

Hampshire

101

14.8

72

10.6

51

7.5

161

23.6

131

19.2

Hertfordshire

42

8.3

81

16.0

34

6.7

149

29.5

81

16.0

Humberside

63

12.2

47

9.1

45

8.7

132

25.5

103

19.9

Kent

73

9.3

86

10.9

61

7.7

230

29.2

146

18.5

Lancashire

164

9.7

197

11.6

143

8.4

459

27.1

341

20.1

Leicestershire

32

9.2

44

12.6

29

8.3

100

28.7

69

19.8

Lincolnshire

39

9.6

45

11.1

30

7.4

107

26.4

92

22.7

Merseyside

130

6.3

238

11.6

199

9.7

713

34.7

400

19.5

Metropolitan

365

7.1

519

10.2

300

5.9

1562

30.6

1,201

23.5

Norfolk

16

5.5

42

14.4

23

7.9

68

23.4

57

19.6

North Wales

57

11.0

76

14.6

46

8.8

112

21.5

94

18.1

North Yorkshire

21

7.5

44

15.7

39

13.9

61

21.7

48

17.1

Northamptonshire

16

7.2

36

16.3

19

8.6

68

30.8

36

16.3

Northumbria

148

14.6

132

13.0

78

7.7

252

24.8

204

20.1

Nottinghamshire

25

8.3

29

9.7

23

7.7

93

31.0

56

18.7

South Wales

75

10.4

103

14.3

64

8.9

217

30.1

120

16.6

South Yorkshire

58

9.0

92

14.2

58

9.0

186

28.7

123

19.0

Staffordshire

35

3.5

102

10.1

96

9.5

365

36.1

221

21.8

Suffolk

12

8.1

13

8.8

9

6.1

54

36.5

24

16.2

Surrey

32

10.6

40

13.2

22

7.3

68

22.4

60

19.8

Sussex

59

8.4

87

12.3

67

9.5

155

22.0

143

20.3

Thames Valley

126

10.0

141

11.2

100

7.9

368

29.3

243

19.3

Warwickshire

16

8.2

24

12.4

14

7.2

53

27.3

44

22.7

West Mercia

44

9.6

64

14.0

29

6.3

125

27.4

71

15.5

West Midlands

132

9.8

166

12.3

104

7.7

361

26.8

243

18.0

West Yorkshire

140

10.5

162

12.2

99

7.4

348

26.1

278

20.9

Wiltshire

33

9.7

37

10.9

36

10.6

85

24.9

59

17.3

Total

2,720

8.9

3,553

11.7

2,449

8.0

8,706

28.6

6,097

20.0


Next Section Index Home Page