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1 Dec 2009 : Column 686W—continued
| Table 2b: Adults recorded as missing by Missing Persons B , 1 April 2008 to 31 October 2009 | ||||||
| Number | ||||||
| Age group | ||||||
| ACPO Region | 18-21 t otal | 22-39 t otal | 40-59 t otal | 60-79 t otal | 80+ t otal | 18-80+ t otal |
| (1) 5 or less. (2) Less than 3. (3) Isle of Man. Note: Exact figures in individual cells hidden to protect statistical confidentiality age group is based on age as at 23 November 2009. | ||||||
Police: Bedfordshire
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attacks on police officers there have been in Mid-Bedfordshire constituency in each of the last five years. [302921]
Mr. Hanson: Data on assaults are not collected centrally by constituency. Data for the numbers of assaults on police officers in Bedfordshire for 2004-05 to 2008-09 are given in the following table.
Police: Databases
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued to police forces on the long-term retention of images on public order databases following the Court of Appeal ruling in the case of Wood v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [2008] EWHC 1105. [302086]
Mr. Hanson: The Home Office has not issued guidance to police forces on retention of images following the Court of Appeal ruling in the case of Wood v. Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis.
The Home Office is working closely with ACPO on the implications of the judgment for all forces and we will be acting on the recommendation in Part 2 of the HMIC review, Adapting to Protest, published on 25 November to clarify the legal framework for the use of overt photography by police during public order operations.
Police: Road Traffic Control
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of police funding for 2008-09 has been allocated to traffic policing in each police force area in England and Wales; how many dedicated traffic police officers there were (a) in 2008 and (b) on the latest date for which information is available; and what percentage of the overall number of police officers these figures represent in each case. [302453]
Mr. Hanson: The Government allocate funding to police authorities in the round. The allocation of resources to traffic policing is a matter for the chief constable and police authority, who are responsible for assessing local needs.
There were 6,299 full-time equivalent police officers whose primary role or function was listed as "traffic" as at 31 March 2008 in the 43 forces of England and Wales, representing 4.4 per cent. of police officers.
As at 31 March 2009 this number fell to 5,992, representing 4.2 per cent. of the overall total.
Radicalism
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to encourage those affected by acts of extremism to report such events to the police. [300481]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Government, when meeting with individuals and groups who have been targeted by acts of extremism, will routinely advise them to report any crime to their local force.
The Government are also spreading best practice on encouraging third-party reporting schemes where people are not confident enough or prepared to approach the police directly. This will contribute to achieving our objective of increasing the proportion of hate crime victims who report its occurrence.
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his Department plans to create a legal definition of the term domestic extremism for use by the police; [302128]
(2) whether his Department plans to issue guidance to police forces on the definition and use of the term domestic extremism. [302129]
Mr. Hanson: The Government have no plans to create a legal definition of domestic extremism. The website of the National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit already sets out guidance on the definition and use of domestic extremism, which is a term used to describe criminal acts in furtherance of a campaign.
The Association of Chief Police Officers is currently updating public order guidance and training, and the Government will work with ACPO to ensure that revised guidance and training are clear on the use of the term domestic extremism.
Roads: Accidents
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much (a) time and (b) money was spent by police forces in (i) England and (ii) Wales in dealing with accidents involving drivers who qualified less than a year prior to the accident in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; [302511]
(2) how much (a) time and (b) money was spent by police forces in (i) England and (ii) Wales in dealing with accidents involving drivers under 20 years old in the last 12-month period for which figures are available. [302512]
Mr. Hanson: The information requested is not held centrally.
Serious Organised Crime Agency
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations have been referred to the Serious Organised Crime Agency by (a) regional police forces, (b) officials of his Department, (c) UK Border Agency officials and (d) HM Revenue and Customs officials in (i) 2009 and (ii) each of the last three years. [301303]
Mr. Alan Campbell:
The majority of SOCA's operational activity falls within the scope of the United Kingdom Organised Crime Control Strategy, and is initiated, planned and executed in collaboration with one or more partner agencies, including other law enforcement agencies from the UK and overseas. In addition to this work within the Control Strategy, SOCA provides a range of
support activities for partners, principally UK law enforcement agencies. There is, therefore, no single referral and adoption system.
SOCA's operational contribution to the UK Control Strategy in the three financial years since it was formed has been:
| Operations and projects | |
This work, covering the range of threats outlined in the United Kingdom Threat Assessment of Organised Crime, is normally multi-faceted and involves concurrent activity by SOCA and partners, across the UK and internationally, aimed at a range of outcomes, including, but not confined to, criminal justice disposals.
Under arrangements agreed between HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), HM Revenue and Customs notify SOCA of seizures made at ports that meet specific criteria. SOCA undertakes systematic checks on every notification, but investigates only where the size of the seizure, significance of the criminals involved and operational opportunities presented are assessed as appropriate for further effective action, in line with the priorities of the UK Organised Crime Control Strategy. The number of notifications over the last three years has been:
| As at 31 August each year | Number |
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Serious Organised Crime Agency is taking to disrupt the smuggling of guns into the UK. [301304]
Mr. Alan Campbell: SOCA's operational activity focusing on the threat from firearms falls under the UK Organised Crime Control Strategy, and in particular the firearms programme of activity. This multi-agency firearms programme, which is led by ACPO, aims to reduce the possession and use of firearms by organised criminals, and by street gangs involved in the drugs trade. This includes SOCA operational activity in collaboration with law enforcement partners in the UK and overseas targeting the importation to the UK (by fast parcels, internet purchases and conventional smuggling means) and distribution of illegal firearms and component parts.
SOCA currently leads 11 operations, eight projects and 11 single-strand inquiries under the firearms programme. SOCA also regularly shares intelligence reporting on firearms, including on smuggling methodologies, with those in law enforcement and Government in a position to use the information to take action against criminal problems.
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