§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government will take to encourage and support Rural Watch and Farm Watch schemes.[16630]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Government recognise that, in rural areas, the police response to crime cannot always be as quick as they or the public would like and it is imperative that people take reasonable precautions against becoming victims of crime.
The most effective response to rural crime is a partnership approach between the police and local communities. We encourage schemes such as Farm Watch and Rural Watch which enable members of the public—with the support of the local police—to do something positive in the fight against crime.
In the Crime and Disorder Bill, we will introduce a new statutory duty for the police and local authorities jointly to analyse and identify local problems of crime and disorder and, together with the local community, draw up and implement strategies for tackling such problems. Schemes such as Farm Watch and Rural Watch will play a positive role in this partnership. The support of local communities will make a significant impact on crime in the countryside.
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§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals the Government have to tackle rural crime.[16629]
§ Mr. MichaelRural communities suffer from most of the same types of crime as, but have different needs from, urban communities. The most effective answer to rural crime is a partnership between the police and local communities.
The Crime and Disorder Bill will provide for new statutory duties for local authorities and the police jointly to analyse and identify local problems of crime and disorder. With input from local communities, a strategy will be drawn up and implemented to tackle those problems. This will apply in both rural and urban areas.
The partnership ideal is already evident in many rural communities, and the creation of many and diverse "Watch" schemes are testimony to the efficacy of this approach.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide additional financial assistance to North Yorkshire Police for radio communications in remote areas.[16631]
§ Mr. MichaelNorth Yorkshire Police Authority's spending capacity increased by £2.8 million (4%) to £72.4 million in 1997–98, which was an increase above the national average. The provisional police revenue settlement for 1998–99 is likely to be announced in December, along with capital funding allocations. Once the allocations have been made, it is entirely for individual chief constables and their police authorities to determine their spending priorities. This Government have undertaken to keep within the public expenditure limits we inherited from the previous Government and no allowance has been made for additional capital funding to be provided to North Yorkshire Police for radio communications in remote areas.