§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make it a statutory responsibility for health and fire authorities to be involved in crime and disorder reduction partnerships. [178430]
§ Ms BlearsSection 97(2) of the Police Reform Act 2002 amended section 5(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to extend the range of bodies who are "responsible authorities" within Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. Police authorities, fire authorities and health authorities in Wales became responsible authorities with effect from 1 April 2003.
982WFollowing discussions with the Department of Health, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England became responsible authorities with effect from 30 April 2004.
PCTs, health authorities in Wales and fire authorities all now have a statutory responsibility to work in partnership with other partners in order to tackle crime and disorder and misuse of drugs issues locally. They are expected to play an important role in the three yearly audit of crime and drugs audit process, currently under way, and the formulation and delivery of the resultant crime and disorder reduction and misuse of drugs strategy covering the period 2005–08.