HC Deb 08 January 2003 vol 397 cc257-8WS
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police stations have (a) opened and (b) closed in Lancashire in each year from 1997 to 2002; [87908]

(2) how many police stations have (a) opened and (b) closed in the north-west of England in 2002. [87909]

Mr. Denham

Chief constables in the north-west have provided information on the number of police stations that have opened and closed in the region in 2002. This is given in the table:

Calendar year 2002
Force Opened Closed Total
Cheshire 0 1 34
Cumbria 1 2 24
Greater
Manchester 1 1 68
Lancashire 0 1 88
Merseyside 0 0 43

The chief constable of Lancashire has provided information on the number of police stations opened and closed in each year from 1997 to 2002. This is set out in the table.

Persons proceeded against for offences connected with pedal cycles, Greater London 2001
Offence description/Principal statute 2001
Lighting and reflector offences Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 81 and RVL Regs. 1989 2
Riding on footpath (persons aged 18 and over only) Highways Act, 1835 Sec 72; (as amended by Local Government Act 1888 S.85(1), the Statute Law Revision (No2) Act 1888. Highways Act 1959 Sch25, Criminal Justice Act 1967, 3rd Sch. and Criminal Justice Act 1982, ss 39 and 46 and Sch.3); Metropolitan Police Act, 1839, Sec.54(7) and Byelaws. 11

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the policy is of the Metropolitan police in seeking to deter adults from cycling on public footpaths; and if he will make a statement. [88443]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

Cycling inconsiderately or irresponsibly on public footpaths is a criminal offence. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the Metropolitan police view the offence seriously, particularly where it is likely to result in

Police station numbers in Lancashire 1997 to 2002
Financial year to: Opened Closed Total
March 1997 0 -3 102
March 1998 0 -4 98
March 1999 0 -5 93
March 2000 0 -3 90
March 2001 0 -1 89
March 2002 0 0 89
2002 to date 0 -1 88

It is the Government's role to allocate grant to police force areas as a whole. Capital grant and credit approval in 2002–03 for all police authorities in England and Wales totalled £199 million, including £20 million specifically for premises improvement and associated items. It is for the chief constable to decide how best to deploy available resources according to operational priorities and objectives. Accordingly, the decision to close a police station or restrict opening hours is an operational matter for the chief constable and not one in which it would be appropriate for the Home Office or Ministers to become involved.