§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has analysed on the benefits of extending CCTV to small towns and villages to help combat crime and anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement. [100323]
§ Mr. DenhamTo help ensure maximum impact and sustainability of CCTV, a £1.5 million Home Office funded national evaluation programme is being carried out by the Scarman Centre, University of Leicester, on 17 approved CCTV Initiative schemes, including a mobile scheme in rural Kent.
The final evaluation report will not be published until 2004 but interim reports will be available before then. The first—providing guidance for practitioners on implementation of CCTV schemes—is due for publication shortly.
§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what additional funding will be made available to police authorities for CCTV schemes in(a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06; and if he will make a statement; [100324]
(2) if he will make a statement on funding for local authorities for CCTV schemes in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06. [100325]
§ Mr. DenhamOpportunities for funding for CCTV currently exist through the funds available to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, on which the police and local authorities are partners. Funding of £94 million is being provided for local crime and drugs spend, including capacity building, for 2003–04.
In addition, a special £50 million Basic Command Unit (BCU) fund is being distributed to local police commanders in 2003–04 to tackle the problems that matter most in their communities. Police will be able to target the extra resources at local level problems, like anti-social behaviour and drugs, deploying CCTV where appropriate.
Funding for 2004–05 and 2005–06 has yet to be finalised.