§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's crime prevention policy.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government's crime prevention policy is based on partnership and is being developed on a broad front. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 respectively strengthen the powers of the courts to deal with offenders and lay the foundations for a new more effective partnership between the Government, the police and the public to fight crime. The recently launched "Partners Against Crime" initiative puts a new emphasis on the individual citizen as a partner with the police, whether as a member of neighbourhood watch or street watch or as a neighbourhood or special constable.
At national level, the ministerial group for crime prevention co-ordinates activity across Government Departments and the National Board for Crime Prevention continues to disseminate best practice. At local level, the Government continue to support crime prevention projects and partnerships through, for example, the expansion of our successful safer cities programme, the single regeneration budget, and the work of Crime Concern, the independent crime prevention organisation.
The Government also attach particular importance to the use of new technology in the fight against crime. We are pushing forward with a number of major new initiatives on crime reduction through technology, including the promotion and funding of closed circuit 220W television in public places, and co-operation with vehicle manufacturers on car security.