HC Deb 12 July 2002 vol 388 cc1253-4W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role Baroness Blackstone has in overseeing the street crime initiative of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary; and if he will make a statement. [67692]

Mr. Denham

The cross-government Street Crime Action Group, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agreed that it would be helpful for each of the 10 street crime areas to be supported by a minister. As one of the sponsor ministers Baroness Blackstone is undertaking visits to Avon and Somerset to meet with and support local agencies, to promote a shared approach to tackling street crime at local level, and to identify any issues on which further action by government agencies would be helpful.