§ 4. Mr. Hilary Benn (Leeds, Central)If he will make a statement on the safety and security of residents in tower blocks.[156023]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Mike O'Brien)The Government are determined to reduce crime and the fear of crime in all residential areas, including those containing tower blocks. Working with local crime and disorder partnerships, we are introducing a range of anti-crime initiatives, such as the installation of closed circuit television and the provision of concierge-controlled entry points. Some £90 million has been allocated to housing-related projects. Some of today's announcements, including new funding for neighbourhood warden schemes, will help to tackle crime in tower blocks.
§ Mr. BennI assure my hon. Friend that Leeds will bid early and bid often for the resources that have been announced today. He mentioned concierge schemes, CCTV and more beat officers, but how does he propose to share information about what works in the use of those funds? That is what the group of elderly residents of a tower block in my constituency, whom I met last Friday, 694 want to know, so that they no longer feel afraid as they make the journey from the entrance to their block to the sanctuary of their own front door.
§ Mr. O'BrienWhat works is ensuring that we get the design of tower blocks right. We seek to promote the role of good design in community safety, particularly by the "secured by design" initiative administered by the Association of Chief Police Officers which encourages the adoption of guidelines to improve the security of estates and tower blocks. The scheme offers specific guidance on multistorey dwellings and stresses the importance of controlled access to tower blocks. Research conducted last year on a sample of 50 estates in West Yorkshire revealed crime rates per household which are between 40 and 50 per cent. lower on estates meeting "secured by design" principles. That is one of the key ways in which we hope to ensure that good practice is disseminated.
§ Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire)Talking of tower blocks, what is the latest news in the saga of the Marsham street tower blocks, for which the Home Office is responsible?
§ Mr. O'BrienThe hon. Gentleman will be aware that we have been considering that issue with great care, and we are anxious to ensure that when the development is complete, it is secured by design.
§ Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington, North)Last week, I met a group of residents of Adair Tower in North Kensington whose lives have been made hell by three crack houses. One has been closed down but the other two are still operating. Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating the tenant management organisation and the police on their close working relationship in dealing with that problem? Will he assure me that he and his team are doing everything possible to give the police the tools to act swiftly against crack houses? In particular, will they consider bringing up to date the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to include crack, to help the police in their work?
§ Mr. O'BrienI agree with my hon. Friend's points. I know that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary recently visited the area with her and met some of the local people involved in tackling those problems, and he will consider the points raised during that visit. I assure my hon. Friend that tackling crack and associated drugs is high on our agenda. We cannot tolerate the behaviour experienced by the residents in her constituency, and we are determined to deal with it.