§ Mrs. ShephardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what measures he is taking to combat crime in rural areas; and if he will make a statement; [95261]
- (2) what proportion of his Department's planned expenditure on crime and disorder reduction strategies will be targeted on rural areas; and if he will make a statement; [95258]
- (3) what recent representations he has received about the level of crime in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [95262]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe primary responsibility for tackling crime falls to police forces in conjunction with the local crime and reduction partnerships, established by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The policing plans and the strategies developed by the partnerships will deal explicitly with rural crime where that is a significant local issue. Some parts of the £400 million Crime Reduction Programme are likely to be diverted to crime in rural areas. There is no other Home Office provision dedicated exclusively to rural crime.
On 20 October, I met a delegation from 14 rural police authorities in England and Wales to discuss crime and the costs of policing in rural areas. My Department has also received petitions from residents of Norfolk and neighbouring counties about the subject.
§ Mrs. ShephardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is being given to692W the inclusion in the forthcoming Rural White Paper of proposals to help tackle rural crime. [95259]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe White Paper is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Home Office officials have been taking part in an inter-Departmental group which considers issues which might be covered in the White Paper. These include rural crime.