HC Deb 09 May 2001 vol 368 cc165-6W
Ms Kelly

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation his Department has made of the impact of community police officers on the number of anti-social behaviour offences. [160294]

Mr. Charles Clarke

[holding answer 8 May 2001]: Anti-social behaviour offences are not recorded as a separate category, so an evaluation of the effect on them of any specific policing strategy is not possible.

Ms Kelly

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many community police officers there are in each police area of Greater Manchester; and how many are(a) full-time and (b) part-time; [160292]

(2) what measures are in place to increase the number of community police officers in the UK; and what impact they have had on the Greater Manchester area. [160293]

Mr. Charles Clarke

[holding answer 8 May 2001]: The information requested for Greater Manchester has been provided by the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester police and is set out in the table.

Greater Manchester police—Community police officers by division
Full-time Part-time Total
A Division (North Manchester) 52 0 52
C Division (South Manchester)1 94 2 96
F Division (Salford) 71 0 71
G Division (Tameside) 38 0 38
J Division (Stockport) 44 2 46
K Division (Bolton) 57 0 57
L Division (Wigan) 59 2 61
M Division (Trafford) 34 2 36
N Division (Bury) 34 2 36
P Division (Rochdale)1 34 4 38
Q Division (Oldham) 44 0 44
Total 561 14 575
1 South Manchester and Rochdale Divisions are considering increasing their numbers of Community Police Officers by two and one respectively

There is no single definition for community policing and many officers carry out some sort of community policing function. The term can cover the assignment of named officers to patrol neighbourhoods, community beat officers and community liaison officers. They are at the forefront of delivering many of our crime reduction policies on the ground, campaigning to reduce burglary and vehicle crime, and gathering intelligence at street level. All these provide visible reassurance and improve the quality of life in the area, not least through reducing the fear of crime among the most vulnerable members of society.

All Chief Constables have agreed that from this year they will report to their constituencies the measures they are taking to increase visibility and accessibility in every ward and parish in their police authority area.

The precise deployment and number of officers for community policing is a matter for the chief officers to decide in accordance with the nature of the areas policed.

I understand from the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester police that Community Police Officers form a key part of the force's operational policing strategy. They are specifically expected to build effective working relationships with key community members through group meetings such as Police Community Consultative Groups and to provide reassurance through high profile foot patrol. Community based police officers should not under ordinary circumstances be diverted away from their normal duties.