HC Deb 21 June 1984 vol 62 cc465-6
5. Mr. Maclean

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to carry forward his criminal justice strategy.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Mellor)

My right hon. and learned Friend is taking a wide range of administrative measures to increase the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and public confidence in it, and he also plans to bring forward legislation on a range of other issues—for example, on prosecution arrangements, sentencing and the treatment of victims—during the lifetime of the present Parliament.

Mr. Maclean

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. What plans has he to extend the neighbourhood watch scheme? Is he aware that this seems to be one of the best ways of maintaining public confidence in the police, with members of the public working side by side with law enforcement officers?

Mr. Mellor

I agree with my hon. Friend. The neighbourhood watch scheme has been a striking success in the metropolis, where there are 390 schemes in operation and a further 590 planned. The House may be interested to know that in one scheme alone—in the Hurlingham part of Fulham—in the quarter from September to November of last year there was a decline in burglaries of about 50 per cent. compared with the same three months of the previous year. I am glad to say that the scheme is now being extended outside London. One is planned in Cumbria, in my hon. Friend's constituency.

Mr. Alex Carlile

When will the Government's criminal justice strategy include a response to the overwhelming and reasonable demand by judges that they be given power to pass suspended youth custody sentences?

Mr. Mellor

I know that the hon. and learned Gentleman has strong feelings about this issue. It is a matter about which, I am aware, a number of members of the judiciary feel strongly, and the subject is under consideration.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

In view of the alarming and worrying increase in the carrying of firearms by criminals, and the consequent issuing of larger numbers of firearms to the police, will consideration be given to the possibility of bringing in a mandatory strong sentence for criminals carrying firearms in the pursuit of robbery?

Mr. Mellor

I am happy to tell my hon. Friend that, at a convenient time in the lifetime of this Parliament, we shall propose that the maximum sentence for the possession of firearms be increased from 14 years to life imprisonment.

Mr. Hoyle

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether the Home Secretary, as part of his criminal justice strategy, is considering increasing the penalties for child sex offences? If not, will he consider doing so for those who commit such vile offences?

Mr. Mellor

We share the hon. Gentleman's concern about those offences, but we have no reason to think that the law is inadequate in that area. The matter is under consideration by one of the committees which consider these issues, and we shall bear in mind what it says.