HC Deb 14 June 1999 vol 333 cc12-3
11. Mr. Gareth Thomas (Clwyd, West)

What research he has commissioned on the impact of increases in funding of police forces on their performance. [85575]

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Jack Straw)

The Audit Commission publishes an annual report on police performance. Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary visits each force every year and conducts full inspections of each force every three years, along with regular thematic inspections across forces. The last Audit Commission annual report, published in January this year, found that there was no direct link between increased spending and improved performance in police force areas.

Mr. Thomas

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. If there is no such direct link, presumably efficiency has a large part to play in terms of performance. That being so, what steps does my right hon. Friend suggest could be taken to improve the operational efficiency of the police with a view to making them more visible, particularly in market towns?

Mr. Straw

We have set a challenging but realistic efficiency agenda for the police service. We are asking it to find 2 per cent. efficiency savings, which it then reinvests in its own front-line operational performance. There are many ways in which the police service can improve operational efficiency, not least—but by no means exclusively—by tackling too-high levels of sickness and early retirement through alleged ill health.

Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire)

Does the Home Secretary accept that while examining performance, it is important also to consider whether the police can lock up criminals? With that in mind, will the right hon. Gentleman examine closely a case that was heard last week in Derbyshire when the police, refusing to name an informant, had to drop the case in the Crown court, thus allowing someone charged with a serious crime to get away, to protect the informant? Will he look at this matter, which is obviously very serious?

Mr. Straw

I shall look at the case and I shall be happy to see the hon. Gentleman about it. The disclosure of informants' names is an important and sensitive issue. As the House knows, following proposals from the previous Government, there was broad agreement across the Chamber about changing the rules on disclosure in the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996. I accept that those rules may need to be strengthened further.