§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance has been available from his Department in each of the last five years for initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour. [110318]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthI have been asked to reply.
During the period in question, the Home Office has provided programme funding to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. We have also provided record numbers of police officers and police support staff, and tackling anti-social behaviour is firmly embedded as one of our four key priorities in the National Policing Plan. As part of the Crime Reduction Programme the CCTV Initiative has provided £170 million across England and Wales. The Communities Against Drugs programme provided crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) with a share of £120 million over 2001–03 with £50 million allocated in year one and £70 million in year two. The Safer Communities Initiative provided additional funding of £20 million in 2002–03. In 2002–03 £ 19 million was available for the new community support officer initiative, and £41 million will be available in 2003–04.
408WEach of these initiatives has enabled partnerships to fund a wide range of interventions, including means to tackle anti-social behaviour where this has been identified as a local priority. £75 million is being made available over the next three years, specifically to support the drive to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The Home Office also contributes to various diversionary schemes for young people. The results have been encouraging and evidence from them suggests strong arguments for the potentially positive contribution that diversionary activities can make in helping and preventing young people who are involved, or are at risk of becoming involved in crime and antisocial behaviour.