HC Deb 09 July 2001 vol 371 c424W
Mr. Borrow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of supporting Neighbourhood Watch schemes in(a) Lancashire and (b) the South Ribble constituency. [1743]

Mr. Denham

In addition to the commitment of large numbers of volunteers, Neighbourhood Watch in Lancashire is actively supported by 11 police crime prevention and community safety officers. Because these officers do not devote all their time to neighbourhood watch it is not possible to estimate the cost of supporting neighbourhood watch schemes in Lancashire.

Mr. Borrow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions exist on making the name and address of Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators available to hon. Members. [1742]

Mr. Denham

The details of Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators are held by police. The police may only disclose information to the extent that they have the common-law or statutory power to do so and do not thereby breach any other relevant law, such as the common law duty of confidence. Any disclosures must also then comply with the good practice laid down in the Data Protection Act 1998, except to the extent that any relevant exemption applies.

Mr. Borrow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Neighbourhood Watch schemes exist in(a) Lancashire and (b) the South Ribble constituency. [1744]

Mr. Denham

I understand that there are 1,876 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Lancashire, of which 180 are in the South Ribble constituency.