§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his evaluation of the effect on the crime rate of Crime Prevention Week.
§ Mr. John PattenHome Office research shows that the following were some of the new initiatives which were set up as a result of the week: 37 crime prevention panels, 73 neighbourhood watch schemes, 300 vehicle watch schemes and 54 other watch schemes. Moreover, business and media support for the week was worth over £11 million. In addition, 1.5 million copies of the crime prevention handbook were distributed. Taken together, we believe these activities and the many others that took place during the week, will have encourged the public to help to prevent crime, particularly crimes involving property, and that increased public participation in crime prevention can lead to a reduction in crime.