§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to improve co-operation between his Department, the National Assembly for Wales and local authorities in Wales in tackling crime in Wales. [146018]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI appointed 10 crime reduction directors last year, one of whom is based in the National Assembly for Wales. Their role is to build strong relationships with local crime and disorder reduction partnerships—of which there are 22 in Wales—helping the police, local authorities, probation service, health authorities and the voluntary and community sectors increase their joint effectiveness through guidance, training, best practice and monitoring crime reduction performance.
Within Wales the crime reduction director also reports to the Assembly Minister for Local Government and through the Assembly Minister advises the Assembly's Local Government Committee; as well as having strong links with all parts of the Assembly civil service.
Crime reduction directors now contribute to the development of Home Office crime reduction policies to ensure that the most effective local outcomes can be designed in from the start.