John Denham: Two key objectives of the police reform programme are to ensure modern working practices and the highest standards of detective capability. Civilians already carry out many tasks in support of policing and there is potential for them to do more. Issues about how the reform process might be used to develop the part civilians play within policing remain under discussion with representatives of...
John Denham: Information on police numbers is collected twice a year on 31 March and 30 September. The Essex police had 2,269 constables on 31 March 1997 and 2,234 constables on 31 March 2001. The Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) is providing Essex police with 197 CFF posts over the three-year period 2000–01 to 2002–03. Essex police plan to recruit 132 CFF posts this year. All these will be constables....
John Denham: holding answer 20 July 2001 There are no general guidelines issued to police forces on the criteria for determining which cases should be reviewed. Forces make decisions based on the circumstances of individual cases and the nature of the new evidence which has become available. The Forensic Science Service advises forces when new techniques emerge which may be relevant to unsolved cases....
John Denham: The statistics collected centrally do not include the circumstances of the offence so that offences of making off without payment (bilking) from petrol stations cannot be distinguished from similar offences at other premises. The number of such incidents, the percentage of such incidents being attended by the police and the estimated cost to the police are therefore not centrally available....
John Denham: Information on the distances travelled by the police escorting wide loads and on the time spent by officers in escort duties is not collected centrally or by the Metropolitan police. It is not possible, therefore, to calculate the costs of this to the Metropolitan police. The available information relates only to the number of wide loads escorted. The figures are: Number 1998 1,267...
John Denham: Following extensive consultation with the police, communities and other key stakeholders, we have agreed in principle to accept recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report, which was that all police "stops" and "searches" should be recorded and a record given to the person stopped. We have asked the stop and search sub-group of the Lawrence Steering Group to draw up detailed...
John Denham: The disclosure of information by police forces is subject to compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The general position is that the police may use personal information in their possession as long as this is necessary for pursuing a legitimate policing purpose. An individual's details would not normally be disclosed for another purpose unless the consent of the individual is first...
John Denham: This information is not collected centrally.
John Denham: There are already laws which govern the circumstances in which air weapons can be sold, possessed or used. We believe that much can be done to tackle air weapon misuse through the enforcement of these laws and through public education on the safe and responsible handling of these firearms. We have asked the Firearms Consultative Committee to consider how best to take this forward and to...
John Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the investigation is still active and on-going.
John Denham: We have no present plans for the alteration of police areas. Forces based on local authority districts would be unable economically to provide the full range of police services and the capacity to respond to major incidents.
John Denham: The police already have powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to direct travellers or other trespassers to leave land when the appropriate statutory requirements are met. These are discretionary powers and it is the operational responsibility of the chief officer of the force concerned to decide when and how to enforce these powers. The effectiveness of this legislation...
John Denham: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) provides operational guidance to police forces on powers to direct travellers or other trespassers to leave land when the appropriate statutory requirements are met. This guidance is kept under regular review. Research has been conducted to review the effectiveness of the current Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions...
John Denham: I have been asked to reply as I have responsibility for Crime Reduction. We have not had direct discussion with petrol companies on their contributions to the cost of bilking at petrol stations, although officials have regular contact with the British Oil Industry Security Syndicate (BOSS) which is made up of representatives of petrol companies. BOSS has instigated the "Forecourt Watch"...
John Denham: I have appointed five new full-time members to the Police Complaints Authority. Their appointments will be for three years. The five new members are as follows. Name Start date Previous position Jeniffer Rogers 3 September 2001 Mental Health Act Commissioner, Mental Health Review Tribunal, ICIS (Independent Consultants in Health and Social Services) Associate Nicola Williams 3...
John Denham: The following allocations have been made by the Home Office to support the Cambridgeshire constabulary in tackling drug related crime: Initiative Arrest Referral Schemes Communities Against Drugs Initiative 2000–01 106,800 (20)— 2001–02 216,480 (21)643,700 (20) Initiative commenced 2001–02 (21) Although this sum was allocated to the two Cambridgeshire Crime and...
John Denham: The decision to sell Trenchard House rests with the Metropolitan Police Authority. The Chair of the Authority informs me that the Authority has received a number of representations which it is considering.
John Denham: The Government are currently working on the development of a national occupational health strategy, locally delivered, for the police service. This will be aimed at reducing sickness absence through improved human resources policy, sickness management and the provision of services. An improved occupational health service will enable forces to bring down the rate of sickness absence, and...
John Denham: Under section 44 (4) of the Police Act 1996, every Chief Constable is required, as soon as possible after the end of the financial year to submit to the Home Secretary a general report on policing during that year of the area for which his or her force is maintained. The Chief Constable of North Wales Police and the North Wales Police Authority produced a joint annual report for 2000–01...
John Denham: holding answer 20 July 2001 The information requested has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and is set out in the table. £ Football Club Amount paid in 1999–2000(31) Amount paid in 2000–2001(31) Arsenal 259,106.66 308,703.58 Barnet 6,290.76 20,086.74 Brentford 55,730.44 48,410.74 Charlton 41,472.83 55,599.87 Chelsea 221,335.28...