§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who has been awarded the contract for the training of the police officers in race and community relations for 1995–96. [24351]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 15 May 1995]: Equalities Associates' contract to provide the Home Office specialist support unit for police community and race relations training was renewed, for a period of three years, in July last year.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) senior officers, 192W (b) trainers and (c) others in the Metropolitan police have been sent on the courses in race and community relations provided by the Home Office specialist support unit in each of the last six years; and how many still remain (i) in training at Hendon and (ii) in divisions in the Metropolitan police area. [24346]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 15 May 1995]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 13 senior officers have attended the HOSSU Training for managers course since its introduction in 1992. Seventy-three trainers have attended the six week race and community relations course since 1989. Of the 73 officers who have undergone the training, 15 are currently trainers at the Metropolitan police training school in Hendon. At least 37 trainers continue to have a training responsibility at a division or unit. No other officers have attended this six week course.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the standard of training provided by Equalities Associates Ltd; [24349]
(2) if he will make a statement on the results of the latest HMI report on the work of the Home Office specialist support unit for the training of police officers in race relations; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [24350]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answers 15 May 1995]: The work of the specialist support unit was inspected in 1991 by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, supported by HMI (Schools) and an independent assessor.
It was found that the provider of the unit, Equalities Associates, was meeting its contractual objectives, and recommendations aimed at further enhancing the effectiveness of the unit's contribution to police service training in community and race relations have been implemented.
I have placed in the Library those parts of the assessment conducted by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made as to whether the police trainers who have undergone training in race and community relations are competent to train their fellow officers in these issues; and if he will make a statement. [24353]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 15 May 1995]: All police trainers are assessed on their competence to deliver training programmes, including those concerning community and race relations.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the amount by which the Home Office specialist support unit for the training of police officers in race and community relations, has been reduced for the year 1995–96; and what are the reasons for this budget reduction; [24348]
(2) if (a) the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and (b) other chief constables for England, Wales and Scotland were consulted before the decision to reduce the budget of the HOSSU was taken; and what was (i) his and (ii) their response. [24446]
193W
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answers 15 May 1995]: The funding of the unit this financial year is £39,000 less than in 1994–95. This reduction reflects public expenditure pressures and the terms of the new contract negotiated with the unit in July 1994.
Issues of funding are discussed by the unit's management board, on which the Metropolitan police and the Association of Chief Police Officers are represented.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made whether all senior police officers have been sufficiently trained in race and community relations. [24352]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 15 May 1995]: All police officers, by the time they have attained a senior rank, will have received training in community and race relations matters. In addition to formal courses the Home Office provides an annual one-week seminar on this subject for senior officers; and steps are being taken with the Home Office specialist support unit to provide further support to senior officers in those forces serving major ethnic minority communities.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police trainers who have undergone training in race and community relations are still working as trainers in the police force. [24343]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 15 May 1995]: It is for chief officers to allocate individual officers to appropriate duties. This information is not held centrally.