HC Deb 27 March 1987 vol 113 c286W
Mr. Hirst

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further response he has had to his proposals on crime prevention.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We continue to receive encouraging responses to our efforts to improve crime prevention. The number of neighbourhood watch schemes continues to increase, demonstrating the enthusiasm of the public for this approach; local authorities are increasingly undertaking crime prevention work, often with Government funding; over 8,000 places have been approved under the community programme to enable voluntary, private and public sector organisations to employ unemployed people on crime prevention projects; and we are working with the Confederation of British Industry, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and other private sector organisations to develop private sector involvement.

Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion and actual sum of money has been allocated under the urban programme and through the urban housing renewal unit for crime prevention measures.

Mr. John Patten

I have been asked to reply.

The urban programme makes an important contribution to crime prevention and tackling the effects of crime through support to 380 projects in 1986–87, totalling about £10 million. Initiatives supported include schemes run in various urban areas by NACRO, and crime prevention and community projects run by the police in Birmingham and Newcastle.

About 30 per cent. (some £17 million) of the resources made available through estate action in 1986–87 are being used to support measures to provide increased security for residents on run-down council estates. These include controlled entry arrangements; video surveillance systems; adaptations and remodelling; provision of defensible space; improved lighting; new locks for doors and windows. All these physical measures are being supported by strengthened management presence on estates — which may involve concierge-type arrangements, door porters, resident caretakers, block patrollers and so on.