HC Deb 22 November 1984 vol 68 cc394-5
9. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to improve standards of crime prevention.

12. Dr. Twinn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority his Department gives to crime prevention.

Mr. Giles Shaw

One of my right hon. and learned Friend's first acts on becoming Home Secretary was to set up the crime prevention unit within the Home Office. The joint departmental circular issued last January has prompted a wide range of activities, involving the police, other local agencies and the public. Activities include the growth of neighbourhood watch schemes, the national conference of crime prevention panel representatives in Cardiff last month, which I attended, and the current regional publicity campaign, which my right hon. and learned Friend launched last month.

Mr. Madel

In addition to the measures on crime prevention which the Government are taking, will my hon. Friend encourage the building industry to see what more can be done in the design and construction of windows and doors to make houses much more secure than they are at present?

Mr. Shaw

Yes, I willingly accept my hon. Friend's observations. He may be aware that there is a standing committee in the Home Office, which I chair, which brings together the industries involved in providing crime prevention technology and those involved in policing and local authorities. New British standards have been issued concerning guidance on house furniture. Most important, architects must recognise that crime prevention can begin on the drawing board.

Dr. Twinn

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's answer and the action taken by the Government. Is he aware that there is widespread concern in Enfield about the level of crime there, and that it is being matched by the splendid response of people in the borough through supporting their neighbourhood watch schemes and by beat policemen? Does he accept that a response from the Home Office about policing levels is necessary?

Mr. Shaw

I agree with my hon. Friend that the introduction of neighbourhood watch schemes has played a significant part in the reduction of crime against domestic property. He will know that about 30 such schemes have been established in the borough, including two in Edmonton. I hope that there will be another one in Edmonton shortly. It is through such devices that local communities can help to prevent wanton burglary of houses.

Mr. McGuire

When will the Government do something to prevent the form of crime about which many of my constituents are especially worried? When people purchase electrical consumer goods they are sometimes flogged absolutely worthless insurance policies to cover breakdowns and the companies issuing them disappear from the face of earth. Should not the Government do something about that form of crime?

Mr. Shaw

The hon. Gentleman will, on reflection, recognise that that matter is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the consumer protection council.

Mr. Haynes

Can the Minister remember the present Home Secretary, and previous Home Secretaries, standing at the Dispatch Box and informing the House that the police force had been increased by 5,000? Despite that, we continue to talk about crime prevention and I hardly see a bobby on the beat. When will his Department do something about that, because that is what crime prevention is about?

Mr. Shaw

I remind the hon. Gentleman, whose observations are always original, that the police force is engaged in a number of activities at present in addition to its natural role of community policing to prevent crime. The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that the police force is determined to improve and increase the standard of community policing, upon which he quite rightly lays great stress.

Mr. Conway

Bearing in mind the impact that conventional police patrolling has on crime prevention, will my hon. Friend consider expanding the special constabulary, which is unpaid, and putting the specials on the beat patrols, which are presently vacant because of industrial unrest?

Mr. Shaw

My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the increasing importance of the special constabulary. I assure him that this year it has played a particularly important role in dealing with certain issues. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will consider the future role of the specials in that regard.

Mr. Soley

The Minister's answers about better doors, windows, locks and porters on vandalised and criminalised estates would be more convincing if he gave the House a guarantee. Will he today give the House a guarantee that he will see the Secretary of State for the Environment about it and confirm that any local authority which introduces such schemes will not be rate-capped?

Mr. Shaw

Not even the hon. Gentleman will expect me to give an assurance in respect of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The hon. Gentleman knows full well that the introduction of many of these schemes can lead to direct savings in local authority housing costs and the costs of introducing other forms of technical protection for buildings.