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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]
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):
(1) The term forensic scientist is taken to mean any scientist who carries out police casework. Information is not available for 2001.
| Leavers | Starters | |
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.
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
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 |
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