HC Deb 16 September 2004 vol 424 cc1677-8WS
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his rejection of the recommendation in paragraph 36 of the First Report of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Session 2003–04, HC59, on cultural objects: developments since 2000, to introduce a performance objective for the theft of cultural objects; and if he will make a statement. [188900]

Caroline Flint

The reasons we set out in our joint response with the Department for Culture Media and Sport for not accepting this recommendation remain valid: Whether thefts involve cultural items is not currently recorded by all police forces and would be difficult to do in a consistent way due to the problem of defining "cultural objects". We are looking to minimise the number of targets on forces to allow them more flexibility to focus on their own local problems and priorities. The Home Office considers that driving down the theft of cultural items is just one means to the ends of reducing organised crime and drug trafficking, rather than a target in itself. Setting such a target would, therefore, add to the bureaucratic demands on forces for little, if any, benefit. We have no plans, therefore, to review our decision.

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