HC Deb 09 April 2003 vol 403 cc280-1W
Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether data from the British Crime Survey can be broken down by police force area; and if he will make a statement. [107301]

Mr. Peter Ainsworth

Since the British Crime Survey moved to an annual cycle in 2001–02 the target sample size has increased to approximately 40,000 interviews a year. The larger sample size has resulted in the ability, for the first time, to analyse questions that are asked of the whole sample by police force area (subject to the statistical robustness of individual measures) and in particular has enabled better monitoring of performance indicators.

The most recent published data for best value performance indicators 120 (risk of victimisation), 121 (fear of crime) and 122 (feelings of public safety) broken down by police for area (PFA) can be found in 'Crime in England and Wales 2001–02 Home Office statistical bulletin 07/02'. The most recent findings available by PFA for public confidence in the criminal justice system and ratings of the police have been published in 'Crime in England and Wales 2001–02: supplementary volume Home Office statistical bulletin 01/03'. A number of the indicators mentioned above were also published in the police performance monitoring 2001–02 publication. Copies of these publications can be found in the Library.