HC Deb 07 July 1997 vol 297 cc360-1W
21. Mr. Etherington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to ensure that crime prevention is given a higher priority [5530]

Ms Atherton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to ensure that crime prevention is given increased priority. [5506]

Mr. Michael

We are determined to raise the profile of crime prevention across the board. It makes far more sense to stop a crime happening than to have to pick up the pieces afterwards.

One of our first priorities is to place a new duty on local authorities and the police service together to develop statutory local partnerships for crime prevention and community safety and, with the key partners, to agree local community safety targets. Our proposals—which we hope to include in the Crime and Disorder Bill to be published later this year—will be developed on the basis of full consultation with all interested parties.

Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list Government expenditure on crime prevention including policing for each of the last five years. [7119]

Mr. Michael

Previously published figures for estimated Government expenditure on crime prevention are as follows:

  • 1992–93: £225.5 million
  • 1993–94: £241.3 million
  • 1994–95: £260 million

Since April 1995, crime prevention projects have been eligible for Government funding under the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Challenge Fund. Expenditure on crime prevention within this budget is not separately identified. Of the 372 projects funded under rounds one and two of the SRB process, 183 (which will receive £1.4 billion in total) include a crime prevention element.

Overall expenditure on policing for the last five years is as follows:

  • 1993–94: £16.027 million
  • 1994–95: £6.271 million
  • 1995–96: £16.494 million
  • 1996–97: £16.867 million (estimated outturn)
  • 1997–98: £17.163 million (planned).

Crime prevention is an integral part of policing and expenditure is not separately identified.