§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding is available to finance the introduction of CCTV cameras in(a) schools and(b) town centres; and if he will make a statement. [134595]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 27 October 2003]: The Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Initiative funded 684 CCTV schemes across England and Wales. The main areas covered by these schemes were town centres/shopping centres, car parks, residential areas, community shopping areas, hospitals, and rail stations.
Under the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas (SRDA) Initiative, £15 million was provided to improve security of small retailers, including the provision of CCTV where appropriate. In year one of the initiative (2001–02) approximately 50 per cent. of the projects involved the installation or upgrading of CCTV in either individual shop units or covering shopping parades or precincts. In year two (2002–03) it rose to almost 70 per cent. and in year three (2003–04) it is 63 per cent.
Both the CCTV and SRDA Initiatives are fully committed and drawing to a close. Future CCTV schemes can be financed through the Building Safer Communities (BSC) Fund, which is used to strategically tackle local crime reduction priorities through a number of interventions including CCTV. For 2003–04 the fund provided local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships with £72.3million.
Section 5 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires the responsible authorities of the CDRP to work in co-operation with other bodies, including education, in completing a crime and disorder audit and strategy. This engagement should ensure access to funding if it is considered a priority for the area. The CDRP can then consider whether installing CCTV cameras in schools and town centres fits with its local priorities.