HC Deb 10 May 2004 vol 421 cc68-9W
22. Hywel Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the current aftercare of persistent arsonists; and if he will make a statement. [171337]

Caroline Flint

The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements we established in 2001 have provided the means by which all agencies involved in protecting the public from offenders—including persistent arsonists—can co-ordinate their efforts and provide a much closer supervision of high-risk offenders.

The OPDM-led Arson Control Forum (established in April 2001) provides the strategic direction of the national fight against arson. The forum has also invested a total of £9.3 million in local arson prevention over three years.

We will also be identifying young people with targeted measures before they become involved in offending as part of our new Prolific and Priority Offender Strategy.