HC Deb 24 April 1986 vol 96 cc181-2W
11. Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any new proposals to fund crime prevention schemes.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Considerable central Government resources are already available, including about £18 million currently through the community programme for places devoted to crime prevention projects and £6.3 million through the urban programme during 1985. The Government will continue to direct public funds where they can be most effective.

16. Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he intends to take to assist and encourage local authorities, housing associations, and other public bodies to undertake measures to improve crime prevention for the public.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Measures are being developed on a number of fronts.

Five local demonstration projects with Home Office funded co-ordinators have been set up.

The Manpower Services Commission has allocated some £18,000,000, under the expanded community programme, for places devoted to crime prevention projects.

The Home Office crime prevention unit, in collaboration with the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and the Association of Chief Police Officers, has recently issued to local authority chief executives examples of good local crime prevention practice.

Five working groups covering residential burglary, car security, shop theft, commercial robbery and the prevention of violence associated with licenced premises have been set up to report to the Home Office Standing Conference on Crime Prevention in November.

27. Mr. Ray Powell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further action he proposes to deal with the rising crime rate.

Mr. Mellor

We have before the House measures to deal with the growing menace of drugs and drug-related crime and to combat public disorder. The criminal justice White Paper published recently announced a number of proposals for changes in sentencing powers. We shall also continue to pursue vigorously our crime prevention measures which are beginning to show encouraging results. But the fight against crime requires the commitment of the whole community, not just the Government.