§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of occasions police were dismissed from court duty on the day of a hearing in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what proposals he has to reduce this. [43693]
330W
§ Mr. Keith Bradley[holding answer 15 March 2002]: Figures are not available. However, central guidance was issued to all criminal justice areas in 2001 asking that courts list cases with due consideration to police officers' availability. The police and Crown Prosecution Service are also working with others in the criminal justice system to ensure that cases are prepared, and witnesses appropriately called, to enable cases to proceed as smoothly as possible when they reach court.