§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many (a) break-ins; (b) assaults; and (c) burglaries directed against old age pensioners have taken place in Northern Ireland each year since 1994 and in how many cases there has been a conviction. [HL830]
§ Baroness AmosThe following tables set out the level of recorded crime against older people over the past five years. We have not provided information before then as new counting rules were introduced in 1998 which would make comparisons with previous years meaningless.
Number 1998–99 Assault 122 Personal robbery 56 1999–2000 Assault 157 Personal robbery 56 2000–01 Assault 155 Personal robbery 60 2001–02 Assault 155 Personal robbery 101 Domestic burglary 1,727 2002–03 Assault 204 Personal robbery 139 Domestic burglary 1,962 The category assault includes wounding with intent, GBH with intent, wounding, GBH, AOABH, aggravated assault and common assault.
PSNI introduced a computerised crime recording system in April 2001 which resulted in a more accurate recording of age information. For this reason domestic burglary offences can be supplied only for 2001–02 and 2002–03.
Information about convictions is not held in the format requested, but the following table sets out the total number of convictions for assault and burglary in Northern Ireland from 1994. Information is not available at this stage in respect of convictions beyond 2001.
66WA
Year Assault Burglary 1994 1,529 408 1995 1,443 344 1996 1,536 391 1997 1,361 378 1998 1,385 364 1999 1,421 445 2000 1,210 320 2001 1,184 193 These figures are based on the principal offence. This means that where proceedings involve more than one offence dealt with at the same time and where there has been a finding of guilt, the tables usually record the offence for which the greatest penalty was imposed.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to reverse the rising numbers of attacks and burglaries on old age pensioners in Northern Ireland. [HL831]
§ Baroness AmosThe Government are committed to improving security for older people in Northern Ireland. The Minister with responsibility for Criminal Justice issues in Northern Ireland, John Spellar, launched two initiatives in October 2003. The Lock Out Crime Scheme will supply and fit free of charge over the next two years, physical security measures for people aged 75 and over in receipt of benefits, living in areas of high domestic burglary. A television advertisement giving information to older people about the most appropriate way to answer their doors to unknown callers was screened, also in October 2003.
In addition, a community safety strategy for older people will be issued for consultation in February 2004. Already through the Community Safety Challenge competition, 14 projects have been funded within local areas which include improving security for older people as one of their key themes. These projects are valued at ₣400,000.
Finally, the police have developed a number of initiatives to tackle crime against older people including, holding a conference in early March 2004 which will focus on crime issues relating to older people, the development of a control strategy covering crimes against older persons, the introduction of vulnerable persons registers in some district command units, the analysis of crime patterns to improve information about those criminals targeting older people and supplying advice as required.