HL Deb 05 December 1995 vol 567 cc76-8WA
Lord Gainford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they plan to give details of the new Crime Prevention Agency.

Baroness Blatch

My right honourable friend announced the details of the new Crime Prevention Agency on 22 November. The agency will subsume the National Board for Crime Prevention, the Home Office Crime Prevention Unit, and the Home Office Crime Prevention Centre.

The work of the agency will be overseen by an agency board which will be an advisory non-departmental public body. My right honourable friend will chair the agency board.

Other members of the agency board are:

Jack Acton Director, Home Office Crime Prevention Centre
Peter Batchelor Chairman, Vehicle Crime Prevention Group; formerly Executive Director Sales and Marketing, Vauxhall Motors
Ken Pease Professor of Criminology, University of Huddersfield
David Quarmby Chairman, Retail Action Group for Crime Prevention; Joint Managing Director, J Sainsbury plc
Nick Ross Broadcaster and Journalist
John Stevens Chief Constable, Northumbria Police; Chairman, ACPO Crime Prevention Sub-Committee; Councillor and Chairman, Surrey Police Authority
Nigel Whiskin Chief Executive, Crime Concern

The terms of reference of the agency board are as follows:

The board is appointed by the Home Secretary and will:

act as the managing board for the Home Office Crime Prevention Unit and the Home Office Crime Prevention Centre

co-ordinate the activities of all the key players in crime prevention by;

ensuring their representation on the board; developing stronger links between each other; and

maintaining links with other organisations

initiate, develop and promote innovative ideas to help prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime by:

following up new research;

identifying good practice; and

ensuring guidance and advice is available work with the police, local authorities, business, industry, the voluntary sector, the community and others to target specific types of crime or crime situations by:

setting up groups to examine specific issues (such as the retail group and the vehicle crime group)

supporting other groups with similar aims

ensure that all sections of the community have the opportunity to be involved in crime prevention by

encouraging the spread of partnership such as Neighbourhood Watch, Street Watch etc.,

promoting youth involvement; and

publicising effective community activity offer advice to Ministers on the major strategic and policy implications relating to these issues and on other effective crime prevention strategies.