§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from chief constables on special responses made to attacks on women;
cal(2) if he will call for reports from chief constables on the steps taken to respond to rape;
(3) what information he has as to the number of police officers in each force area who have been trained in sexual investigation techniques;
(4) if he will call for reports from all chief constables outside the metropolis as to which forces have rape victim examination suites on the same lines as the one in Brentford.
§ Mr. Giles ShawFive hundred and fifty-six officers of the Metropolitan police had undergone a course in sexual offences investigation techniques by the end of 1985. Special training in the handling of rape cases, especially by women officers, is customary in other forces, but no figures are available centrally of the numbers who have been trained. The general question of the police's response to cases of rape and domestic violence, including the treatment of victims, and the provision of special examination suites, is the subject of a recent report on violence against women published by the Women's National Commission. The report contains a large number of recommendations for building on the work which has already been done in this area, and the Department will be consulting with the Association of Chief Police Officers on the scope for further action in response to the report.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables on the steps taken to prevent attacks on women.
§ Mr. Giles ShawAs a result of the Prime Minister's recent seminar on crime prevention the Home Office, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, will consider urgently the production of an advisory publicity package for the public, and particularly for women, on practical steps they can undertake to reduce the risk of attack and how to respond in the event of attack.