§ Ms Janet AndersonTo 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. [37528]
§ Mr. MacleanThe Home Office runs an on-going campaign providing people with advice on crime prevention. Almost 20 million copies of the original crime prevention handbook were distributed between 1988 and 1994, and 1.75 million copies of the revised edition "Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention" have been distributed to date. The guide provides detailed advice on how everyone can reduce the risk of assault and make themselves feel safer in their everyday lives, as well as advice on what men can do to help women feel more secure.
In addition, more than 300 crime prevention schemes targeting women's safety have been supported by Government grants totalling £1.3 million under phase 1 of the safer cities programme.
The Government also launched a domestic violence awareness campaign on 24 October 1994 called "Domestic Violence—Don't Stand For It". The campaign emphasised that domestic violence is a crime and that everyone had the right to live their life free of fear and abuse. It also encouraged victims to seek the help and assistance that is available.
The Home Office continually evaluates its crime prevention strategy and recently commissioned an independent survey of women's attitudes to personal safety. The results showed that women did not support a personal safety campaign directed specifically at them. It was considered unnecessary and deemed likely to increase the fear of crime.