§ Simon HughesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which agency has responsibility for the enforcement of warrants following the breach of a community court order; and if he will make a statement. [13830]
§ Mr. WillsAccording to the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority and other magistrates courts committees, the numbers of community penalty breach warrants issued between 1 April 2001 and 31 August 2001, which were not executed or withdrawn before 28 September 2001, are:
- (a) London—907
- (b) West Midlands—494
- (c) Greater Manchester—613.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many warrants for breach of a community court order issued after 1 April remain unexecuted in(a) the London probation area, (b) the West Midlands probation area and (c) the Greater Manchester probation area; and if he will make a statement. [13833]
§ Mr. WillsWarrants are usually addressed to both police constables and persons authorised by the court to deal with enforcement.
Lead responsibility for execution of community penalty breach warrants was transferred from the police to magistrates courts committees on 1 April 2001. Each magistrates courts committee decides its own enforcement strategy. Some committees have elected to employ civilian enforcement officers or approved enforcement agencies to execute warrants; others have contracted this work back to the local police force.