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12 Oct 2009 : Column 548W—continued
Fly Tipping: Prosecutions
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions have been made and (b) fixed penalty notices have been issued by (i) police and (ii) local authorities for (A) fly tipping, (B) graffiti, (C) dog fouling, (D) the dropping of litter and (E) parking offences in (1) 2007-08 and (2) 2008-09. [290714]
Mr. Alan Campbell
[holding answer 9 September 2009]: Information provided by the Ministry of Justice, showing the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for fly tipping, other criminal damage, dog fouling, the dropping of litter and parking offences in England and Wales in 2007 are given in the table. Please note that data reported to the Ministry of Justice do not separately identify graffiti offences from other criminal damage offences. Court proceedings data are published by calendar year; 2007 is the latest available, data for 2008 will be
available towards the end of 2009. The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
Offences of fly tipping, dog fouling, the dropping of litter and parking offences are summary offences and do not feature in the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office. The Home Office does collect penalty notice for disorder (PND) data on recorded offences of criminal damage, which includes graffiti-related offences, although these are part of an aggregate count and therefore cannot be separately identified.
Information on fixed penalties for motoring offences (FPNs) reported to the Home Office shows that there were 446,816 FPNs issued for 'obstruction, waiting and parking offences' in 2007. Data for 2008 are scheduled to be published in March 2010.
Additionally, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) publishes data on fixed penalty notices for environmental offences. The most recent published information can be found on the DEFRA website which can be viewed via the following web link:
| Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for selected offences, England and Wales, 2007( 1,2) | |
| Offence | 2007 |
| (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Covers offences under sections 33(6),33(8),33(9),34 and 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. (4) Offences of graffiti cannot be separately identified within the "other criminal damage" category. (5) Covers offences under section 3 of the 1996 Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act. (6) Covers offences under sections 87 and 94 of the 1990 Environmental Protection Act, section 1 of the 1989 Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act and section 2 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978. (7) Covers offences under sections 19,21, 22 and 160 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act, sections 173,174,175 and 190 of the 2000 Transport Act, ss 78,79 and 82 of 2004 Traffic Management Act, ss 72 and 78 of the 1835 Highway Act, s54 of the 1839 Metropolitan Police Act, ss5(1),8,32-36 and 45-53 of the 1984 Road Traffic Regulation Act, and RR101 and 103 of the 1986 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations. Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit-Office for Criminal Justice Reform | |
Foreign Workers: Immigration Controls
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) migrants and (b) dependants of migrants of each nationality have been given leave to enter the UK under the (i) skilled worker route, (ii) highly skilled migrants programme, (iii) tier 2
of the points-based system and (iv) tier 1 of the points-based system in each quarter since 1 January 2007. [290713]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 9 September 2009]: The information requested about migrants and their dependents who have been given leave to enter in each quarter since January 2007 under (1) tiers 1 and 2 of the points based system and (2) the entry routes which Tiers 1 and 2 replaced will be placed in the House Library.
Foreign Workers: Lloyds Banking Group
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications by Lloyds Banking Group for permits for skilled workers from each country of origin under the intra-company transfer category were (a) made to and (b) generated by the UK Border Agency in each month since April 2009. [291345]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 16 September 2009]: The information requested is commercially sensitive and, as such, will not be released.
Foreigners: Prisoners
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners were held under immigration detention powers were held (a) in prison and (b) on the immigration removal estate on 1 August 2009. [290907]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 9 September 2009]: As at 1 August 2009 there were approximately 1,800 foreign national offenders detained under immigration powers who had completed their sentence and were awaiting deportation. Around 500 of those were detained under immigration powers in Her Majesty's prisons.
Human Trafficking
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding he has allocated for training of social workers and police in matters related to human trafficking for each of the next three years. [289350]
Mr. Alan Campbell: There have been no funding decisions taken in respect of training on issues of human trafficking for the next three years. Training modules on human trafficking are being rolled out to become part of mainstream mandatory training for police officers. This work is on course to be completed by the end of 2009.
Training of social workers falls appropriately to local authorities, which shape the services provided to meet the needs of the local population including keeping children safe from harm.
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the number of women and children trafficked into the UK for (a) sexual exploitation, (b) labour exploitation, (c) domestic servitude and (d) other purposes in each of the last five years. [291030]
Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 14 September 2009]: Our latest estimate of the scale of human trafficking is that at any one time in 2003, there were up to 4,000 women in the UK who were potentially victims of human trafficking. In April 2009 the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre estimated that there are approximately 325 children trafficked into the UK each year.
We are currently undertaking work to produce a new estimate of trafficking for sexual exploitation. We aim to publish this by the end of the year.
There are currently no estimates on the numbers of labour trafficking victims (including victims of domestic servitude).
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department takes to (a) monitor and (b) evaluate the (i) work and (ii) performance of the competent authority under the national referral mechanism for victims of trafficking. [291031]
Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 14 September 2009]: All efforts to tackle trafficking are monitored and scrutinised by the quarterly Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Trafficking chaired by myself.
Further scrutiny of trafficking issues is provided by a non-governmental organisation stakeholder group, which I chair alongside the Solicitor-General. The UK action plan on trafficking also provides specific commitments to review particular aspects of the Convention implementation, for example the 45-day recovery/reflection period.
A UK Border Force-led task force was set up to monitor the implementation of the national referral mechanism (NRM) and to ensure that all parts of it, including the competent authorities, are working effectively. The task force contains representatives from Government Departments, local authorities, the UK Human Trafficking Centre and the non-governmental organisation victim support providers Eaves Housing, TARA (Scotland), and Migrant Helpline (Northern Ireland). It is currently meeting on a monthly basis and will host a number of expert workshops on 2 October to review NRM performance over its first six months.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people trafficked into the UK have been flown back to their country of origin (a) in and (b) outside the EU in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of such journeys. [291080]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 14 September 2009]: Between 1 April 2009 and 31 August 2009 a total of 275 referrals into the National Referral Mechanism were recorded by the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC). These referrals were made by the UK Border Agency, police services, local authorities and non-governmental agencies. This includes foreign nationals from both within and outside the European Economic Area and British citizens.
Many of these cases are still under consideration, but UK Border Agency records show that none of those subject to immigration control have been removed or departed voluntarily from the UK. There has therefore been no cost for such journeys to date.
Information on historic cases considered before the new National Referral Mechanism could not be obtained without the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
Statistical information on the National Referral Mechanism is published quarterly on the UKHTC website:
Statistical information for the period 1 July-30 September will be published on the UKHTC website at the end of September 2009.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what proportion of cases referred to the National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking were individuals found to have had (a) reasonable and (b) conclusive grounds for having been trafficked. [291328]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 16 September 2009]: Between 1 April 2009 and 31 August 2009 a total of 275 referrals into the National Referral Mechanism were recorded by the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC). A total of 196 reasonable grounds decisions were made by competent authorities based in the UKHTC and UK Border Agency during this period. 151 or just over three quarters of these individuals were found to have reasonable grounds to believe that they were trafficked.
During the same period a total of 57 conclusive grounds decisions were made by competent authorities. 43 or roughly three quarters of these individuals were found to have conclusive grounds to believe that they were trafficked.
Statistical information on the National Referral Mechanism is published quarterly on the UK Human Trafficking Centre's website
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to extend the role and duties of the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre in anticipation of an increase in levels of human trafficking in the period immediately prior to the London 2012 Olympics. [291330]
Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 16 September 2009]: While there is currently no evidence to suggest that there is an increase in trafficking activity in the run-up to the Olympic games, we are keeping the intelligence under review and planning to deal with any potential increase.
The UKHTC is already engaging with the Olympic Project Group and contributing to the assessment of the threat posed by human trafficking to the 2012 Olympics. In addition the centre is liaising with police, other agencies, and non- governmental organisations to ensure that intelligence on this issue is regularly reviewed and assessed.
This will form part of our plans to deal with any potential increase and have proactive measures in place.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many referrals under the National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking there have been since 1 April 2009; from which countries those referred originated; and which agencies have made such referrals. [291331]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 16 April 2009]: Between 1 April 2009 and 31 August 2009 a total of 275 referrals into the National Referral Mechanism were recorded by the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC). These referrals were made by the UK Border Agency, police services, local authorities and non-governmental agencies.
The individuals referred originated from 52 different countries, with the highest numbers coming from China (42), Nigeria (42) and Vietnam (30).
Statistical information on the national referral mechanism is published quarterly on the UKHTC website:
Statistical information for the period 1 July to 30 September will be published on the UKHTC website at the end of September 2009.
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the report on the outcomes of Pentameter 2 to be available. [291746]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The outcomes of the operational phase of Pentameter 2 have been published and are available on the UKHTC website.
Evidence and analysis from Pentameter 2 is being used by the UKHTC to feed into work being undertaken by Regional Intelligence Units and its partners to produce a new estimate on the scale of trafficking for sexual exploitation. We intend to make this estimate available by the end of the year.
Human trafficking: Females
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many trafficked women have been detained in the UK in each of the last five years; and for how long on average they were detained. [291809]
Alan Johnson: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained by checking individual case files only at disproportionate costs.
Under the National Referral Mechanism process, in place since 1 April 2009, when a Competent Authority establishes reasonable grounds to believe that an individual is a victim of human trafficking, that individual will not be held in immigration detention barring exceptional circumstances. When a Competent Authority identifies a victim of trafficking they should ensure that any agency investigating offences committed by the victim is made aware of the identification decision.
Identity and Passport Service: Telephone Services
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls the Identity and Passport Service advice line received in each of the last 12 months. [289522]
Mr. Woolas: The number of calls received by the Passport Adviceline for the previous 12 months, is set out in the following table:
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