§ 16. Mr. Tony McNulty (Harrow, East)What research his Department has commissioned about the effects of CCTV on crime levels. [85580]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Mike O'Brien)Research by the Home Office police research group has shown that closed circuit television reduces crime and, importantly, the fear of crime, particularly when it is deployed as part of a wider crime reduction strategy. We shall assess the effectiveness of schemes that received funding under the CCTV challenge competition as the information becomes available.
§ Mr. McNultyI thank my hon. Friend for that answer and congratulate the councils of all parties across the 18 country which have successfully implemented CCTV. I should like assurances on two points. First, should not all subsequent bids be rooted in an understanding of local crime and disorder audits and strategies? Secondly, some independent research has been carried out on dispersal, but far more is needed so that we can be assured that the intuitive view that CCTV simply disperses crime elsewhere is not right.
§ Mr. O'BrienI can assure my hon. Friend on both points. We want to ensure that any application for CCTV funding is rooted firmly in the local crime and disorder audits. We also want to ensure that displacement of crime is studied properly. A study commissioned by the Scottish Office of the CCTV system in Airdrie found that there was no evidence of displacement and that there was a genuine reduction in crime as a result of CCTV. We want to build on that, but my hon. Friend is right to say that we need to ensure that research is done on an even broader basis.
§ Mr. Edward Garnier (Harborough)During the assessment that the Minister mentioned, will he make a comparison between the situation in Market Harborough and that in the borough of Oadby and Wigston, both of which are in my constituency? CCTV was introduced in Market Harborough under the Conservative Government, but the Liberal Democrat borough council in Oadby and Wigston has refused to apply to the Home Office for funding under the previous Government and under this Government. Will he make a point of comparing levels of crime in the two areas so that the benefits can be made clear to the feckless Liberal Democrat council in my constituency?
§ Mr. O'BrienThat might be an interesting comparison, but the hon. and learned Gentleman should know that when we came to office, there was only £1 million left in the budget for CCTV. We have introduced a £170 million CCTV initiative that involves £150 million for England and Wales, £13 million for Scotland, £4 million for Northern Ireland and £3 million for Wales. That money is tied into a £250 million crime reduction package. We are investing in reducing crime, whereas the previous Government merely talked about it.