(LD):...So, how were the pilot
areas selected? Why are they not coterminous with the
responsibilities of local Police and Crime
Commissioners or elected mayors, bearing in mind
that those individuals have responsibility for crime reduction
and that appears to be the primary purpose of conducting these
reviews? What proportion of offensive weapon homicides is
expected to be contained within the pilot areas, compared with
the total number of homicides involving weapons?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office () (Con):...Both noble
Lords asked about the pilot areas. It will perhaps help if I
clarify what the areas are and how they were chosen. In London,
as the noble Lord, , highlighted, they are the
boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Harrow, Lambeth and Southwark. In the
West Midlands, they are Birmingham and Coventry, and in Wales it
is the South Wales Police force area, which includes Swansea,
Neath, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Rhondda, Merthyr Tydfil, Cardiff
and the Vale of Glamorgan. The pilot is being focused on the
local authorities within those three areas that, combined and
based on historical data over the past five years, it is
estimated may expect approximately 50 to 75 homicides of adults
involving an offensive weapon during the pilot. I fear I cannot
answer the question of the noble Lord, , about coterminous borders
with police and crime commissioner areas, but I
will endeavour to find out whether there is an answer and, if
there is, I shall write to him...
To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE
