§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police forces and 108W (b) basic command units have been asked to supply information to the Street Crime Action Team; on what topics and with what frequency. [61182]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 13 June 2002]: The Government are committed to reducing street crime.
In April 2002 the Government launched the 10 Force Robbery Reduction Initiative across the 10 police force areas with the highest levels of recorded robbery and snatch theft.
The 10 forces are: the Metropolitan police, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Avon and Somerset, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Thames Valley, and Lancashire. 133 basic command units (BCU) fall within these force areas. 82 per cent. of all street crime was recorded in those areas in the 12 months to March 2001.
As part of the initiative the Home Office Street Crime Action Team is in regular contact with the 10 forces on the full range of topics affecting reaching the goal of a sustainable reduction in street crime.