§ Ross CranstonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the crime detection rate and increase the numbers of criminals brought to justice. [75336]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Police Standards Unit is currently working with a number of police forces to improve their crime detection rates. This will be achieved through a structured performance enhancement programme, utilising the good practice guide and supported through other existing initiatives. Force performance is measured through the performance information supplied to the Police Standards Unit on a monthly basis.
Through the further development and structured implementation of the National Intelligence Model (NIM), police activity can be targeted more effectively at both detecting and disrupting crime. This, coupled with the increased provision of analytical support, will provide the crime and disorder partnerships with the ability to detect crime and bring offenders to justice.
On 17 October this year, the Government published the "Narrowing the Justice Gap" framework document. This document sets out a three-pronged approach to increase the number of offenders brought to justice. The strategy involves: 623W
overcoming weaknesses in the overall criminal justice process by encouraging good practice and inter-agency coordination at local levels;targeting particular types of offences;targeting particular types of offender, in particular the persistent offender scheme due to commence in 2003.The Government have made available £182 million over a four-year period to expand the national DNA database. The Home Office, ACPO and the Forensic Science Service are working together to maximise the benefits gained from the expenditure being made in the development and application of DNA and other forensic techniques.