HC Deb 15 January 1993 vol 216 cc827-8W
Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what measures he proposes to take to tackle youth crime in Mansfield and Nottinghamshire;

(2) what measures he intends to take to deal with car crimes committed by young people in (a) Mansfield, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England and Wales.

Mr. Jack

The Government have encouraged the police and other agencies in the development of effective crime prevention programmes aimed at tackling youth crime and have funded a number of initiatives. The Home Office safer cities project in Nottingham has committed more than £100,000 to youth crime prevention schemes since 1989. In addition, we have set up a local drug prevention team in the area. The Department of Education announced last month that Nottinghamshire is to receive £147,000 in 1992–93 under its grants for education support and training (GEST) programme for youth crime prevention schemes, one of which will be a "wheels" project in the Ashfield district to divert young people from car crime. The Department of the Environment's city challenge programme in Nottingham is also targeting youth crime prevention. In addition the probation supervision grant scheme provides funding for three projects in the Nottingham area for support for offenders and ex-offenders.

As part of its programme of action on youth crime for 1993, Crime Concern is planning a series of regional seminars, including two in the midlands, on best practice in diverting young people from crime.

The Government are also considering what means might be needed to reduce offending by the very small group of persistent juvenile offenders.

With regard to the measures being taken nationwide to prevent car crime, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the question from the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on 16 December 1992, Official Report, column 208.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders appearing before the courts in(a) the east midlands, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England and Wales were unemployed in (i) 1989, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1991.

Mr. Jack

Information on the employment status of defendants appearing before the courts in England and Wales is not recorded centrally.