§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those crime prevention initiatives and publicity campaigns which have been directly targeted at women in the last five years.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 9 November 1992]: Effective action against crime is of benefit to all citizens, men and women alike. But we know that matters such as personal safety can be of particular concern to women. A range of actions has been taken in recent years to enhance the response of the police and other agencies to rape and domestic violence, and there are a number of crime prevention initiatives specifically directed at improving women's safety. These include more than 200 schemes in the safer cities programme and three innovative projects aimed at tackling domestic violence in Islington, Leeds and Merseyside. These are being developed and evaluated by the Home Office. Most police forces produce material giving information and advice for the victims of domestic violence. In addition the Home Office's crime prevention handbook, "Practical Ways to Crack Crime" deals in detail with aspects of personal safety for women.