HC Deb 05 July 1999 vol 334 cc329-30W
Sir Robert Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued to police forces about consultation with minority groups in the communities which they serve; and if he will list those forces which have established procedures for liaison with(a) ethnic minorities, (b) lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, (c) disabled people and (d) transsexual and transgendered people. [89159]

Mr. Boateng

In December 1996, the Home Office Police Research Group published a report "It's Good to Talk: lessons in public consultation and feedback". This report looked at good practice in consultation and feedback on policing and provided advice to police authorities and forces in deciding how to undertake their consultation arrangements. It set out a matrix methodology to help each force and authority decide on the most appropriate arrangements, and included advice on how to consult with minority groups—particularly those who found it difficult to take part in the more formal consultation processes.

Extensive guidance has been issued on the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which imposed new duties on police forces and local authorities to form partnerships to deal with crime and disorder. Consultation with local communities is a major aspect of these new duties and the guidance gives advice on the involvement of minority groups.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's thematic report on police community and race relations "Winning the Race", published in October 1997, and the follow-up report "Winning the Race—Revisited", published in March 1999, also made recommendations on a number of issues including the need to have sound and representative public consultation processes—with particular reference to minority groups.

Official Report, column 428, what proportion of prisoners is confined for more than 22 hours a day in HMP (a) Birmingham, (b) Liverpool, (c) Dartmoor, (d) Feltham and (e) Swansea. [89287]

Mr. George Howarth

The precise numbers vary from day to day. The table gives the position on 29 June 1999.

A survey of all forces undertaken as part of the inspection revealed that at the time of the second inspection (September 1998), 93 per cent. of forces had a strategy in place to consult minority groups. The remaining forces are developing their own strategies. Such strategies will not necessarily be specific to any one group but will encompass all groups within the local community. The issue will be looked at again when Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary carries out a further inspection of race and community relations in 2000.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has published guidelines for the police in dealing with gay and lesbian communities which includes advice on consultation arrangements.