§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget he has allocated to efforts to tackle distraction burglary in the financial years(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [102733]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthIn 2002–03, we will have spent nearly £328,000 centrally on work to combat distraction burglary, including funding for a project targeting distraction burglary in Leeds, and the work of Distraction Burglary Task Force.
Crime Reduction funding for 2003–04 has mainly been distributed directly to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to use to tackle local priorities. There is no central Home Office budget dedicated to distraction burglary.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress against the National Distraction Burglary Task Force's action plan. [102734]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe National Distraction Burglary Task Force drew up a two year action plan in 2000. It set out a wide range of activities which reflect the Task Force's aim, which is
To tackle distraction burglary and thereby improve the quality of life of vulnerable communities through a co-ordinated national partnership initiative within England and Wales".That action plan was substantially completed in 2002.
The Task Force held 11 regional conferences which were well attended and positively received. The report on the conferences has been published and sent to those who attended, others who work with the elderly and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.
The Task Force has also produced a range of materials to raise awareness of the issue of distraction burglary among a range of organisations, and to disseminate good practice. Nearly 7,000 toolkits, comprising a copy of a Good Practice Guide, two videos and samples of useful items for making homes more secure were produced for use by those working with the elderly and vulnerable. A leaflet highlighting the message "Stop … Chain … Check" has been produced and a series of newsletters for practitioners has been published.
Funding has been provided for two substantial research projects on distraction burglary. These are investigating key factors that affect vulnerability and the ability to resist attempted offences. We hope to publish the report of this research in May 2003.
From April 2003, offences deemed to be distraction burglary will be included in the recorded crime series; incorporated as a sub-heading within the Burglary Dwelling category.
Although the original action plan has been substantially completed, work to reduce distraction burglary is continuing and the Task Force has set up three sub-groups, to consider Communications, Prevention and Partnership. They will look at ways to develop key actions, such as offering advice and training, liaising with utility companies, police forces 969W and others in order to improve the prevention and detection of this crime, and ways of further developing the existing guidance and materials.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to create a new, separate classification of distraction burglary for the purposes of recording crime statistics. [102735]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthWith effect from 1 April 2003, we will be collecting centrally from police forces numbers of offences of distraction burglary. These will be recorded as a sub-group of the domestic burglary category and published in the recorded crime statistics.
The definition of distraction burglary we have agreed is:
Any crime where a falsehood, trick or distraction is used on an occupant of a dwelling to gain, or try to gain, access to the premises to commit burglary.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported incidents of distraction burglary there were in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the number of incidents of distraction burglary that go unreported each year. [103736]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthIn 2002–03, we will have spent nearly £328,000 centrally on work to combat distraction burglary, including funding for a project targeting distraction burglary in Leeds, and the work of Distraction Burglary Task Force.
Crime reduction funding for 2003–04 has mainly been distributed directly to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to use to tackle local priorities. There is no central Home Office budget dedicated to distraction burglary.