HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 c611W
Sir Irvine Patnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department has issued to (i) police forces and (ii) the public on countering opportunist crimes at traffic lights. [39561]

Mr. Maclean

Advice on preventing this kind of crime is contained in a number of Home Office publications.

The Home Office crime prevention agency handbook, "Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention", contains advice on personal safety, which includes advice on safety while driving, much of which is relevant to this kind of opportunistic crime. More specific guidance is also included in "Steer Clear of Car Crime", which the Home Office produced in 1995. Copies of these publications are distributed to forces in England and Wales, and are passed on through crime prevention officers to the general public.

As with all crime prevention advice produced by the Home Office, great care is taken to ensure that it is not fear inducing.

Advice on safety while driving is also included in the crime prevention manual produced by the Home Office crime prevention college. Crime prevention officers retain the manual on completion of their training.