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18 Mar 2009 : Column 1162W—continued
Drugs: Crime Prevention
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many closure orders have been made in respect of premises (a) where Class A drugs are used unlawfully and (b) associated with persistent disorder or nuisance in each police force area in England and Wales in each year since 2003. [263528]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced the power for courts to issue orders for the closure of premises where Class A drugs and serious nuisance and disorder are a problem. The provision commenced on 20 January 2004. Data on the number of closure orders made in respect of premises where Class A drugs are used unlawfully are collected by the Home Office through voluntary Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) survey of antisocial behaviour tools and powers. Information on closure orders where Class A drugs are used unlawfully is not available in the format requested. However, information published in May 2008 and covering the period October 2003 to September 2007 is shown in the following table.
The power for the courts to close, on a temporary basis, premises associated with significant and persistent disorder or persistent serious nuisance was introduced by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. This new power commenced on 1 December 2008. Data on closure of premises associated with persistent disorder or nuisance order are not available.
| CDRP Survey not including ASBO statistics, from October 2003 up to September 2007 | ||
| Police force/CJS | Government office region | Crack house made |
Forensic Science
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the minimum required level of (a) professional and clinical qualification and (b) practical training is for (i) nurses, (ii) doctors and (iii) other healthcare professionals employed by police forces to provide forensic medical services; what duties are performed by staff at each level in each professional role; what steps are taken to ensure that staff recruited to provide these services are available to give evidence in court when required; and what powers police forces have to (A) make and (B) vary requirements for forensic medical staff; [262774]
(2) what guidance her Department has issued on required levels of qualifications and training for healthcare staff employed in the delivery of forensic medical services to police forces and HM Courts Service. [262775]
Jacqui Smith: Guidance as to the level of professional and clinical qualification required for doctors or nurses is issued by the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM), which is part of the Royal College of Physicians.
Responsibility for recruitment of healthcare professionals is a matter for individual chief police officers, and it is for each police force to make a decision on an individual basis against this guidance.
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) recommends that students attending the Introductory Course in Clinical Forensic Medicine have the following experience:
Doctors: Evidence of General Medical Council membership and evidence of insurance to practice as a medical practitioner.
Health care professionals: Three to five years experience in an Accident and Emergency or Prison nursing environment.
The FFLM will have an opinion as to what duties should, or should not, be performed by staff at each level in each professional role. There is no mandatory guidance from the police service.
The availability of health care staff to give evidence in court is a matter for individual police forces.
NPIA Forensic Centre provides an introductory course for forensic physicians and health care professionals. Such training is not mandatory. All police forces in England and Wales and custody health care providers are aware of the training, together with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the forensic regulator.
Former Ministers: Security
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former Ministers receive police protection. [262768]
Mr. Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 March 2009, Official Report , column 1779W.
Fraud: Banks
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps she has taken to increase levels of detection of fraud in relation to retail banks. [264228]
Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 17 March 2009]: Banks may report incidents of fraud to the police who will take a decision about the appropriate response.
In response to the recent cross Whitehall review of fraud, the Government and Corporation of London have allocated additional funding to the City of London police to enable the force to take a national lead in the investigation of serious and organised fraud. The force is also establishing a centre of excellence which will assist other forces in their response to fraud by providing training and best practice. Additional money has also been made available to establish a national fraud reporting centre which will equip law enforcement agencies with a powerful intelligence tool and help form the basis of better prevention advice and alerts to fraud threats for business and the public.
Master Locksmiths’ Association
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons she did not invite representatives of the Master Locksmiths' Association to her recent burglary summit. [261907]
Jacqui Smith: Invitees to the burglary summit held on 4 February were intended to provide as wide a representation of stakeholders as possible across the public, private and voluntary sectors, within the constraints of the venue. The security industry was represented in the first instance by the British Security Industry Association, as they have a wide reach through the industry, but the Home Office recognises that Master Locksmiths’ Association has a very valuable role to play.
The summit was the first event in an ongoing programme of work, and the Home Office is developing the ideas that emerged from that meeting, involving a wider range of partners. Since the summit, a number of companies and industry bodies have contacted officials expressing a willingness to support the real help for people in hard times work. The support of the Master Locksmith's Association is most welcome; they have been contacted by Home Office officials and will be included in relevant aspects of this work as it progresses.
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