§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many retail premise burglaries in Coventry in each of the last five years resulted in convictions; [17019]
(2) if he will estimate the total cost to retailers in Coventry of robberies and till snatches in each of the last five years; what are the figures in real terms; and what was the percentage change from the previous year; [17021]
(3) how many robberies and till snatches there were in retail premises in Coventry in each of the last five years; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case; [17020]
(4) how many retail premises were burgled in Coventry in each of the last five years; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case. [17018]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answers 26 February 1996]: This information is not collected centrally.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the conviction rate for retail store robbery and till snatches in Coventry in each of the last five years. [17023]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 26 February 1996]: Information which is readily available centrally is given in the table. Data for 1995 will be available in the autumn.
Prosecutions and convictions1 in Coventry petty sessional division for theft from shops,2 for the period 1990 to 1994 Number of defendants Prosecutions Convictions1 1990 585 484 1991 493 408 1992 491 382 1993 468 377 1994 428 377 1 Includes persons convicted at the Crown court, who were committed for trial/sentence by Coventry PSD. 2 Section 1 of the Theft Act 1968.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he has had with the President of the Board of Trade with respect to retail crime; what plans he has to combat retail crime; and if he will make a statement; [17024]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likelihood of retail premises being burgled in (a) Coventry and (b) England and Wales. [17022]
508W
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answers 26 February 1996]: My right hon. and learned Friend and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade have both contributed to the third White Paper on competitiveness, which will emphasise the importance of crime prevention.
Work to combat retail crime is being energetically pursued by the retail action group, an associate group of the Home Office Crime Prevention Agency Board. Advice booklets for retailers on preventing burglary, robber and violence to staff have already been published. Further guidance on the prevention of customer theft and external fraud and on making an arrest will be published later this year. The group is also looking at ways of identifying and promulgating best practice, including the use of technology in crime prevention.
Closed circuit television can make a significant contribution to reducing crime against retail premises, especially when it forms part of a package of crime prevention measures. The Home Office has provided advice to users in recently published guidance; and has helped promote its use through last year's CCTV challenge competition in which the majority of successful bids were from partnerships who wished to install security cameras in shopping centres and high streets in town centres around the country. My right hon. and learned Friend has announced that £15 million will be available in 1996 for a further CCTV challenge competition and it is likely that shopping areas will again be major beneficiaries.
Numerous projects are also being carried forward by police forces, local partnerships, businesses and shop watch schemes. Some have been funded under the safer cities programme. Police crime prevention officers supply regular and up to date crime prevention advice to businesses, and architectural liaison officers provide advice on the part that good building design can play in preventing crime.
The Home Office conducted a survey in 1994 to assess the risks of crime for retailers in England and Wales, including the risks of burglary. The results are reported in Home Office research study No. 146 and Home Office research and statistics directorate research findings No. 26, copies of which are in the Library. The survey does not allow any reliable results for retailers in Coventry.