§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Hazel Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [156184]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across 149W the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 2000–01, is available in the Library. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. 'Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000' and 'Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000' can be found in the Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by Basic Command Unit and Crime and Disorder partnerships.
The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Hazel Grove constituency or the immediate locality:
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
Stockport Metropolitan borough council was awarded approximately £108,000 for a four-camera scheme, providing coverage for Marple Town Centre. The scheme aims to reduce vehicle crime by 30 per cent. assaults by 30 per cent. robbery by 30 per cent. and criminal damage by 40 per cent. over three years.
Youth Offending
Hazel Grove is covered by the Stockport Youth Offending Team (YOT). The Stockport YOT provides a working example of partnership practice, drawing together skilled professionals into a multi-disciplinary partnership between police, social services, probation, health and education authorities. The team acts as the central hub of the local criminal justice systems specific to youth offending. Subsequently the team draws into action many agencies, voluntary sector groups and private organisations specific to the central aims of the Youth Justice System. Specific examples include: the development of computerised Youth Offending Information Systems (YOIS), contracted out to a private software company; NCH (National Children's Home) provides bails support service for the 10 local YOTs across Manchester and the development of diversion schemes specific to sports development is managed in partnership with local voluntary organisations (including Sports Stockport and Moving Up Through Sport).
Together with development funding provided through the Youth Justice Board, financial resources are obtained through agreement with each of the partner agencies. Networks extend through voluntary sector organisations and local government agencies to public sector companies. Considerable time has been extended to developing community based networks through the work of the teams' four youth crime reduction officers.
In accordance with National Standards for Youth Justice (April 2000) assessments are carried out on all young offenders who come to the attention of the team. A consistent approach to assessment is achieved through using the ASSET assessment tool, which is a national standardised tool, enabling the specific problems of the individual offender and the risks they pose to others to be assessed. Programmes are tailored to the individual needs, aimed at impacting upon each of the factors operating in an individual's life which contribute to the likelihood of further offending. Assessments are peer reviewed within a professional's forum, providing for further consistency of approach and quality assurance.
150WIf the primary aim of the Stockport YOT is to be achieved, consultation with the local community, agencies and partners is key However, consultation by itself is inadequate if concerns are not addressed. To that end, throughout its working practices Stockport YOT relies on community participation. Integral to the community served by the team are the concerns of victims and offenders. The team seeks to work in co-operation with offenders, utilising court ordered interventions and the secure estate where necessary. A cornerstone to the team's ongoing commitment to the community is provided through work with victims of youth offending. The victims of all offences are contacted, with reparation activities aimed at meeting the needs of victims of crime.
More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Hazel Grove to a greater or lesser extent. For example:
376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established;racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;the asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 49,690 by the end of February 2001; andgood progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire deaths in England and Wales. They have dropped from 605 in 1997 to 534 in 1999.Information on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website www.homeoffice.gov.uk.