HC Deb 14 February 2000 vol 344 c401W
20. Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has carried out into the effectiveness of community beat officers in preventing crime. [108254]

Mr. Charles Clarke

While there has been no Home Office research solely addressing the effectiveness of community beat officers in preventing crime, research has demonstrated the important role that community beat officers can play in fighting crime, whether by identifying and tackling local crime problems, providing intelligence, or combating fear of crime. Further, the contribution of community beat officers will be an important factor in some of the projects being funded under the crime reduction programme.