§ Jean CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of his Department's policies and actions(a) from 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997, (b) from 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998, and (c) since 7 May 1998. [35602]
§ Mr. DenhamWe are not able to provide statistical information for the effects of our policies prior to 2 May 1997 as this would amount to disproportionate cost.
Brislington schools have been given approximately £89,000 for a schools' initiative. This will tackle issues through running "Coping with Teenagers" training for parents, a peer mentoring programme, 10 week Consequences of Crime course for those "at risk", a 60W Lessons Withdrawal programme for those who would have been excluded and installing a new non-attendance computer system.
Further funding has been granted for various Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) initiatives. The Kingsdown Estate has received over £257,000 for a partnership between the council, police and local residents to target an urban residential area with three tower blocks by providing additional 26 cameras to an existing system. The objectives of this scheme are to reduce fear of crime, improve personal and building security, reduce graffiti, vandalism, criminal damage and vehicle crime and improve communication and response of police patrols in the area. Further CCTV schemes have been set up in Symes, St. Paul's and St. Jude's. These form part of an integrated package to reduce drug-trading, fear of crime and prostitution.
Several schemes have been set up under the Reducing Burglary Initiative in Knowle Estate, Hartcliffe (North and South), St. Agnes, Cromwell and Upper Easton. These involve providing additional window locks, "Dawn to Dusk" lighting, improved fencing and promotion of Neighbourhood Watch schemes. A significant amount of resources will placed into target hardening and measures are to be adopted to reduce repeat victimisation, improve offender detection, raise public awareness of crime prevention issues and provide research, rehabilitation and diversion of offenders. There will be interagency working including the police, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and Age Concern. Follow up schemes are planned to gather feedback from local agencies and offenders. Offenders will also be referred to drug rehabilitation.
The City of Bristol will receive a minimum of £1.6 million over the next two years for a Communities Against Drugs programme. The funding is delivered through a plan agreed between the Drug Action Team, the Crime and Disorder Partnership and Local Authority. The intentions of this scheme are to disrupt drugs markets; tackle drug related crime and strengthen communities to resist drugs.
Bristol is now operating an Intensive Surveillance and Supervision Programme (ISSP). ISSP is the most rigorous, non-custodial intervention available for young offenders to tackle their offending behaviour. There are 41 schemes operating nationally targeting 2,500 of the most prolific young offenders a year at an annual cost of £15 million. When fully operational it will have the capacity to deal with 25 young offenders at any one time—50 in a year. Currently there are three people on the scheme. The programmes are managed and funded by the Youth Justice Board and the Bristol scheme has been awarded a grant of over £895,000.
Information on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk). The Annual Report for 2001–02 has now been published and can also be found under the same website.