HC Deb 24 February 2003 vol 400 cc323-4W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what budget was allocated for forensic computing units for each of the last three years; and what the proposed budgets are for each of the next three years; [97542]

(2) how many whole-time equivalent staff were working in the field of forensic computing in each constabulary, in each of the last three years. [97541]

Mr. Denham

The information sought by the hon. Member is not held centrally.

It is the responsibility of chief officers and police authorities to decide on the number of staff and proportion of their funding which they allocate to the operation of forensic computing units.

In 2001/02 the Home Office provided £25 million over three years, over and above general police funding, for the purpose of fighting hi-tech crime; £10 million of which is being used to enhance the powers of local police forces to investigate criminal activity online and to examine computer data forensically. In terms of staffing this sum to date has resulted in the training of a further 54 network investigators and seven forensic investigators across forces.