Crime Management (Hansard, 3 May 1990)

§ 9. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how much money was invested in purchasing new technology for crime management and crime pattern analysis by each police force in Wales during 1989–90.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
The purchase of computers and other equipment is a matter for chief constables and their police authorities. I understand, however, that in 1989–90 the police forces in Wales spent the following amounts on new technology for crime management and crime pattern analysis: Dyfed Powys £7,500, Gwent £3,500 and South Wales £89,500.
In addition, the North Wales police spent £323,000 on a crime reporting system which will also provide some crime management and crime analysis facilities.

§ Mr. Jones
The Minister will recall that in an earlier reply his right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary said that he heeded the reports of Her Majesty's inspectors. Is he aware of the recent HMI report into the South Wales police which said that their lack of computers was hampering their effectiveness in detecting crime. The report states: Crime management and crime pattern analysis——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman must paraphrase, not quote.

§ Mr. Jones
Is the Minister aware that that report makes it clear that because chief officers of police have to consult files manually they are hampered in trying to detect crime? Will he make it clear to South Wales police that further funding will be made available so that they can overcome that problem?

§ Mr. Lloyd
Yes, I am well aware of the HMI report and that senior officers in the forces concerned share its views on the necessity of improving the situation. Plans to do so must lie with the police authorities, and this year they are intending to spend a further £2 million on equipment. I hope that a great deal of that money will go on upgrading their computer systems. Of the amount that they intend to spend, one third will come from central Government grant.

Mr. John P. Smith
Will the Minister take this opportunity to comment on a report published today, which shows that one in five of the public in south Wales is not satisfied with the work of the police? Those people gave two reasons for their dissatisfaction—first, that the police are too busy to do their job properly and, secondly, that there are not enough police on the streets. If that police force does not receive money for its computer equipment it will be unable to do its job properly.

§ Mr. Lloyd
From the figures that the hon. Gentleman cites, it is clear that 80 per cent. of people in the area are satisfied with the police. In answer to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones), I said that a particular shortcoming in computer technology had been identified and knowledge of it shared with the chief officers. A substantial sum of money is available among the police forces in Wales to spend on equipment and no doubt they will spend it.