§ Dame Peggy Fennerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the county constabularies which have complied with his Department's guidelines on the provisions and procedures for interviewing victims of rape;
(2) if he will list the county constabularies which have not yet complied with his Department's guidelines on provision and procedures for interviewing victims of rape;
(3) if he is satisfied with progress towards complying with his Department's guidelines to chief constables, in respect of provisions and procedures for interviewing victims of rape; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe guidance contained in Home Office circular 69/1986 on violence against women was issued last October after consultations with chief officers of police and deals with operational matters which are their responsibility. We have no authority to issue instructions to chief officers in these matters but Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary discuss with them progress in implementing the circular's recommendations during the course of their annual inspections. The indications so far are that chief officers are responding positively to the circular"s recommendations.