HC Deb 25 April 1996 vol 276 cc569-70
1. Mr. Matthew Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to increase the number of CCTV schemes in operation. [25036]

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Michael Howard)

In March 1995, we distributed £5 million to 106 winners in our first CCTV challenge competition. Those schemes are now coming on stream. We are planning to spend a further £45 million over the next three years to promote the use of CCTV in crime prevention. We aim to fund 10,000 more cameras.

Mr. Banks

My right hon. and learned Friend will be aware of the strong support in Southport for the introduction of closed circuit television cameras. Does he agree that, where CCTV has been introduced, there has been a clear reduction in crime? Is not that to be welcomed? Will he pursue the policy with the utmost vigour?

Mr. Howard

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I shall certainly continue to pursue the policy. When closed circuit television was introduced in Workington in 1994, crime was reduced by 57 per cent. on the previous year, and there was a further reduction of 59 per cent. in 1995. There have been similar reductions across the country. In the words of the chief constable of Northumbria: We are leading the world in closed circuit television technology".

Mr. Tony Banks

Before we all wildly applaud what the Home Secretary has just said, may I ask him whether he is aware that there are more electronic eyes—and that we are under more surveillance—in this country than in any other country on the planet, including all the eastern European countries? Are we not seeing the day of big brother? The fact that we have to have spies on every building to try to limit crime marks 17 years of Conservative government, and is a condemnation of him and everything that he stands for.

Mr. Howard

There speaks the authentic voice of the Labour party. The country will know that, whereas Conservatives are working hard to protect the public through the use of technology and other ways, all those efforts are being met by the most antediluvian opposition of the hon. Gentleman and his party.

Mr. Carttiss

In the light of my right hon. and learned Friend's answer, is he aware that although a number of Labour-controlled Norfolk towns, including the city of Norwich, have CCTV, the Labour-controlled Great Yarmouth borough council has rejected the crime prevention measure? What does that say about the so-called policy of being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime that we hear so much from the Labour Front Bench?

Mr. Howard

It shows yet again that Labour cannot be trusted on crime. Not long ago, I had the privilege of visiting some of the CCTV schemes in Norfolk. They are very successful. It is a great pity that Great Yarmouth council is so blinkered that it is not prepared to follow the example of others in Norfolk.

Mr. Gapes

Will the Home Secretary support the bid of Labour Redbridge council for a CCTV scheme in the centre of Ilford, which is supported by the police and the local business community and would do wonders to cut crime and add to the thriving nature of many Labour-led businesses in our local authority?

Mr. Howard

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the most careful consideration will be given to the bid for funding for CCTV in his constituency. I further give him the undertaking that we shall not hold it against his constituency that his neighbour, the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks), has such old-fashioned and obstructive views on the subject.