§ 10. Fiona Mactaggart (Slough)What assessment he has made of recent trends in crime in Slough; and if he will make a statement. [13348]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Bob Ainsworth)The Home Office does not publish statistics showing total recorded crime below force level. However, thefts of vehicles fell by 7.2 per cent. in the Slough basic command unit in the 12 months to March 2001; domestic burglary fell by 1.4 per cent. in the same period.
§ Fiona MactaggartI am sure that the Minister is aware that in every other category, crime increased in Slough. Is he aware that those units of Thames Valley police force with a devolved system of management have fewer resources to deal with crime than other units? Will he promise to seek an early meeting with the new chief constable of Thames Valley, when he is appointed, to ask what he will do about the fact that the area that I represent, which has the highest crime in Thames valley, has the fewest resources to deal with it?
§ Mr. AinsworthI am aware that my hon. Friend is discussing these matters locally, that she has raised them with the director of crime reduction for the area and also with her local commander, and that she has asked that the issue of the allocation of resources be taken up with the chief constable. As I have a constituency not dissimilar to hers, I am aware of some of the arguments, and she is no 16 doubt aware that the allocation of resources within the police force area is an operational matter and one for the chief constable.