§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Tooting parliamentary constituency the effect of his Department's policies and actions since 1 May 1997. [149862]
§ 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 the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 1999–2000, is available in the Library.
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 following are examples relating to the Tooting constituency or the immediate locality:
Crime Reduction Programme (CRP):
Targeted Policing Initiative:
Round 2: Understanding and Responding to Hate Crime—A Metropolitan Police Project seeking to tackle domestic violence and racially motivated crime in all London boroughs within their policing area. Scheme seeks to develop a data system that will inform the investigation of hate crime; create a system for training and support for those dealing with hate crime' and improve the understanding of different forms of hate crime and how to respond to it. Also aims to find more effective ways of identifying both new and repeat victims. Allocated funding of £287,000 for a 22 month project.Closed Circuit Television (CCTV):
Three schemes approved under the CCTV initiative 1999–total £327,500
Lennox Estate—15 CCTV cameras and related equipment which will provide coverage around the Lennox Housing Estate with the aim of targeting criminal damage, vandalism, anti-social behaviour and attempted burglaries.St. George's Hospital—providing 11 cameras and associated equipment the scheme seeks to facilitate coverage around St George's Hospital, focusing primarily on the car park area, 248W which has experienced relatively high levels of vehicle crime. The scheme will also target burglary, bicycle theft and anti-social behaviour.Battersea Park Extension—four CCTV cameras and associated equipment have been funded to provide further coverage of the Battersea Park area and the vicinity of Prince of Wales Drive. This will enable the Metropolitan police and the Wandsworth Parks Constabulary to respond to incidents quickly and control public events more effectively. The scheme also seeks to reduce motor vehicle crime, which has been a problem affecting off-street parking around Prince of Wales Drive.Wandsworth has recently submitted six bids under round two of the CCTV Initiative. The funding requested from the CRP is £530,299. These bids have been submitted to the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme Unit (CRPU) and a decision is awaited.
Reducing Burglary Initiative:
There are three initiatives at present within the borough:
Round 2: Over 60's—The Metropolitan police in partnership with Wandsworth Borough Council have been allocated funding for a project covering the over 60's. The main interventions proposed are target hardening for repeat victims, particularly among elderly households. Allocated Crime Reduction Programme funding of £7,100.Round 2: Balham Ward—The project encompasses the Balham area. Main interventions proposed are raising awareness, roadshow and watch link, target hardening and a property accreditation scheme for an area with large numbers of flats and houses in multiple occupation. Allocated Crime Reduction Programme funding of £19,400.Round 2: West Putney Ward—Main interventions proposed are target hardening, awareness raising and direct offender targeting in areas with large detached properties and council estates. Allocated Crime Reduction Programme funding of £25,100.Wandsworth has submitted a bid under round 3 of the Reducing Burglary Initiative. The bid covers a significant proportion of the borough and asks for funding of £526,100. The bid has been submitted to the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme Unit (CRPU) and a decision is awaited.
Drug Arrest Referral Initiative:
A drug arrest referral scheme has been established in Wandsworth. The scheme aims to reduce drugs misuse and drug related crime by providing treatment options for problem drug users, who are arrested. A specialist drugs worker is employed to identify, assess and refer people to treatment who have been arrested and want help in relation to problem drug use. The cost of employing Arrest Referral Workers is being matched jointly by the Metropolitan Police until April 2002. Under the Crime Reduction Programme, the Joint Finance Initiative additionally provides a contribution towards local treatment of problem drug-users. The CRP allocation of funding for arrest referral is £25,974 and for treatment is £21,468.
More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Tooting 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;
249WThe asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 66,195 by the end of December 2000; and
Good 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.