HC Deb 16 February 1984 vol 54 c285W
36. Mr. Gale

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority his Department gives to crime prevention measures.

40. Mr. Bright

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority his Department gives to crime prevention measures.

44. Mr. Bevan

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority his Department gives to crime prevention measures.

54. Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority his Department gives to crime prevention measures.

Mr. Hurd

We give a high priority to such measures. We have set up a crime prevention unit in the Home Office to increase and widen our efforts. The Home Office and other Departments have recently issued a joint circular to local authorities, the police and others giving guidance on local inter-agency co-operation to prevent crime.

38. Ms. Clare Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider issuing guidance to encourage the redeployment of resources currently spent on policing to ensure that the prevention of burglary of the homes of people living in inner city areas is given higher priority.

Mr. Hurd

No. It is for individual chief officers of police to decide how to deploy their resources in the light of local needs. They are well aware of the importance of preventing burglary, and of encouraging householders to take sensible steps to protect their homes.