§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the(a) agenda and (b) minutes of the crime summit held at 10 Downing street on Monday 3 July; and if he will make a statement. [129294]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 6 July 2000]: The crime seminar on 3 July brought together senior officers of police and others with expertise in tackling violent crime and disorder. The senior officers of the five Metropolitan forces outlined their plans for using their share of the additional £20 million to tackle robbery, which I announced in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Ms McCafferty) on 15 June 2000, Official Report, column 714W.
426WIn the general discussion which followed, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I underlined our real determination to tackle violence and the culture of disorder. Those present agreed on the need to ensure that the police had sufficient powers to deal effectively with drunken, loutish, anti-social behaviour. The chief officers present were broadly supportive of the idea of fixed penalty fines. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister concluded that the Home Office should work closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers and others to work up this and other options for tackling disorder in the coming weeks. The Home Office has continuous discussions with Chief Constables about measures to deal with anti-social behaviour.