Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 April 2001. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Monday, 2 April 2001 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what effect CCTV cameras in Chorley have had on the reduction of crime in Chorley; and if he will make a statement on crime levels in Chorley in each of the past five years. - Inc figures and ref to Home Office Statistical Bulletin 1-01 "Recorded Crime England and Wales: 12 months to September 2000".

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect CCTV cameras in Chorley have had on the reduction of crime in Chorley; and if he will make a statement on crime levels in Chorley in each of the past five years. [156696] Mr. Charles Clarke: Police operational experience and general research studies show that Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) has considerable crime reduction and detection potential, particularly when used as part of a wider strategy. Lancashire Police statistics show a reduction of 34 per cent. in the overall crime levels in Chorley town centre in the year following the installation of cameras in December 1996. An independent assessment into the impact of the Chorley borough mobile CCTV system implemented in May 1999 will be carried out shortly. Schemes funded under the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative will be evaluated to build up the knowledge base of what works best in what context. Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships will also be evaluating schemes locally. Crime levels for local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, including Chorley, have been collected and published for the last 18 months for six types of crime: violence against the person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary dwelling, theft of motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles. The latest figures are contained in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 1-01 "Recorded Crime England and Wales: 12 months to September 2000".

Secondary information