HC Deb 13 January 2004 vol 416 cc659-60W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what issues have been specified by Merseyside police as affecting the incidence of(a) domestic burglary, (b) vehicle crime and (c) robbery in their local plan. [146266]

Ms Blears

Merseyside Police's Annual Policing Plan 2003–04 sets out how the force will enhance the use of the National Intelligence Model to target criminals and their networks whose operations have a direct impact on volume crime (burglary, vehicle crime and violent crime, including robbery). Lessons from the street crime initiative have been applied to tackling burglary and vehicle crime. Increased use of police powers to stop and search and targeting known offenders have had a positive impact on both burglary and vehicle crime on Merseyside. In addition, the implementation of new inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been. [146195]

Mr. Blunkett

I am unable to provide the hon. Member with a complete answer as central records are not held on the information sought, and to obtain the requested information in the time given would incur disproportionate cost.

I am, however, able to provide the following information on information technology contracts let within the last 10 years originally valued at over £20 million by the Home Office and its Agencies (Prison Service, Forensic Science Service and UK Passport Service):

burglary packs issued to officers attending reported burglaries and extra work undertaken by crime scene investigators have contributed to improved performance. Feedback from user satisfaction surveys has also enabled the force to tailor its response to communities' needs.