§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislation to make it obligatory for local authorities and private developers to liaise with the police crime prevention officers at the initial stages of the development of housing and industrial estates.
§ Mr. YeoThe Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations, which come into force on 10 February, will require local planning authorities to have regard to crime prevention when preparing development plans. Furthermore, my Department's circulars 1/84 (issued jointly with the Home Office) and 22/88, provide guidance on the role of planning in crime prevention. They encourage local planning authorities to consult police architectural liaison officers on planning applications for developments, such as housing and industrial estates, where there is potential to eliminate or reduce criminal activity through the adoption of best practice at the design stage.