§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on assaults on police officers. [150570]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeAssault is a serious offence and assaults on the police are deplorable. The Government are committed to reducing the number of assaults on police officers as part of their overall strategy to reduce violent crime, as set out in "fighting violent crime together: an action plan" published in January. We are determined to support the right of every law-abiding individual to go about his or her daily life without the fear of falling victim to crime. We recognise our responsibility in supporting the police to protect the community. That is why we are increasing police funding significantly and in real terms.
The Government are determined to ensure that all police officers are protected in carrying out their duties. We support the use of the best available means to protect our police officers. In addition to the development of protective clothing to guard against knife or gun attack, police now have access to the up-to-date extendable side handled batons and the CS incapacitant spray, which help to protect them from assault. The Home Office's Police Scientific Development Branch continues to monitor developments in this area, in order to provide the police service with advice on the most effective equipment available.
We recognise the importance of high quality training in protecting police officers in carrying out their duties. In May 2000 the Government published "Police Training:
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Number of parenting, child safety and sex offender orders (as introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998) made, discharged or breached within pilot areas and nationally up to 30 September 20001 Made Type of order and police force area Number up to 31 May 2000 Nationally from 1 June to 30 September 20001 Discharged Breached (up to June 2000)1 Sex Offender Order2 332 11 4n/a n/a Greater Manchester — 1 — — Metropolitan police — 1 — — Lancashire — 2 — — Northamptonshire — 1 — — Nottinghamshire — 1 — — Suffolk — 1 — — West Yorkshire — 2 — — Dyfed-Powys — 1 — — North Wales — 1 — — Parenting Order5 6284 740 n/a 81 of which given at: Civil and family proceedings courts — 18 n/a — Cleveland 10— 1 — — Greater Manchester 10— 6 — — Metropolitan police — 5 — — The Way Forward" which set out a range of proposals to ensure common national standards in police training and life-long learning for staff.
In order to allow the identification of the level of recorded assaults on the police, in 1998 we introduced assault on a constable as one of the new elements in the recording of crime figures. Assault carries a range of sentences depending on the seriousness of the incident. We expect the courts to use their full powers when considering sentences in cases where the police are assaulted.