§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of local crime partnerships in England and Wales. [105705]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe crime and disorder reduction partnerships brought into being by the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act published their strategies on 1 April 1999 and are currently implementing them. We recently published a national crime reduction strategy which includes measures to support partnerships and develop their effectiveness so that they can fulfil their potential.