§ Sir John WheelerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to deal with urban crime.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI am launching today a new initiative: the urban crime fund. This will provide targeted additional funds to selected forces on an experimental basis. Merseyside, Northumbria and West Yorkshire will each be eligible for additional funding in 1992–93 of up to some £3.6 million.
The additional funding—made available direct to police authorities through the Government's urban programme—will be targeted on the inner cities, including city challenge areas. This demonstrates the Government's commitment to a co-ordinated attack on inner city problems in partnership with local authorities, the private sector and local communities.
The three police authorities will be invited to put proposals to me on how they would use the extra resources. I will be looking particularly for effective and innovative measures, including the mobilisation of local communities, in the fight against urban crime.