HC Deb 24 March 1986 vol 94 c339W
Mr. Peter Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further initiatives he proposes to take in the field of crime prevention.

Mr. Hurd

Much work is already in hand following the crime prevention seminar hosted by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in January. But it is important that the momentum is not lost and I have therefore established a ministerial group to be chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, with the following terms of referenceTo carry forward the Government's strategy for preventing crime and the fear of crime by reducing opportunities that exist for crime to occur, and to create confidence within the community that crime can be reduced, having particular regard to:

  1. (i) developing proposals for the more effective implementation of that strategy; and
  2. (ii) the arrangements within and outside of government for the co-ordination, development and implementation of initiatives.
The Group should take such action as it considers necessary and report on its work".

The success of any initiative on crime prevention depends to a great extent on public support and involvement, and the group will also seek to heighten public awareness.

The group will include Ministers and officials from the following Departments: Her Majesty's Treasury; Northern Ireland Office; Scottish Office; Welsh Office; Department of Education and Science; Department of Employment; Department of Energy; Department of Trade and Industry; Department of Health and Social Security; Department of the Environment; Department of Transport.