§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in delivering best value, it is his policy that comparisons should be made between the performance of basic command units within police forces; and if he will make a statement on the criteria to be used. [114457]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeIn January this year, for the first time, the recorded crime statistics were published at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level. This allows local people to judge and compare the performance of their local police. From July 2000, this will be augmented with recorded crime statistics being published at crime and disorder reduction partnership level.
Both the BCU and the partnerships' data will be published in a form which will assist comparison on a like with like basis. We are working, in conjunction with Leeds University, to draw up families of BCUs and partnerships, so that they can be compared with one another within these families. We expect the existence of these families to be a significant help to police forces and authorities who, under Best Value, wish to benchmark performance at local level.
170W
Minister Location Date of travel Date of return Purpose Kate Hoey The Hague 7 February 1999 8 February 1999 Ministerial visit to Europol Kate Hoey Berlin 10 February 1999 12 February 1999 Informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) Home Secretary Berlin 11 February 1999 11 February 1999 Informal meeting of JHA Council Kate Hoey Bonn 23 February 1999 23 February 1999 Restricted meeting of the JHA Home Secretary Brussels 11 March 1999 12 March 1999 JHA Council Meeting Kate Hoey Brussels 11 March 1999 12 March 1999 JHA Council Meeting Paul Boateng Brussels 13 March 1999 14 March 1999 Meeting with EU Commissioner for Social Affairs Lord Williams Thailand and Cambodia 13 March 1999 19 March 1999 Meetings regarding child sex exploitation matters George Howarth Brussels 16 March 1999 16 March 1999 Meetings regarding drugs and European elections Kate Hoey Cologne 24 March 1999 28 March 1999 Attending conference on domestic violence/violence against women. Kate Hoey Luxembourg 7 April 1999 7 April 1999 Special JHA council on Kosovo Home Secretary Luxembourg 7 April 1999 7 April 1999 Special JHA council on Kosovo Kate Hoey Brussels and Turin 20 April 1999 22 April 1999 Appearance at Civil Liberties Committee and football intelligence officers Lord Williams Germany 10 May 1999 12 May 1999 Meetings with German Minister responsible for prisons Home Secretary Bonn 10 May 1999 10 May 1999 Meeting with Interior Minister Home Secretary Brussels 26 May 1999 27 May 1999 JHA Council Meeting Kate Hoey Brussels 26 May 1999 28 May 1999 JHA Council Meeting Paul Boateng Chicago 26 May 1999 28 May 1999 Meetings regarding policing, drugs and social exclusion Paul Boateng Washington 28 May 1999 7 June 1999 Severe personality disorder. Meetings and visits Kate Hoey Vilnius 30 June 1999 1 July 1999 Meetings regarding immigration and organized crime Kate Hoey Helsinki 17 July 1999 18 July 1999 Pre-Presidency ministerial visit From April 2001, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary hope to undertake more comprehensive inspections at BCU level. This will also allow comparisons to be made. These inspections will be based upon the same principles as the new Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary inspection model for police authorities. A BCU inspection protocol is currently being developed.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that police forces should use(a) external consultants or (b) internal assessment for the purposes of assessing Best Value performance. [114465]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeUnder the Local Government Act 1999, individual police authorities are responsible for delivering best value. This includes the extent to which they use external consultants or undertake internal assessments.