Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 March 2002. It was answered by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Monday, 11 March 2002 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many incidents of (a) verbal assault and (b) physical assault reported in Benefits Agency offices in the last 12 months took place in (i) a reception area, (ii) an unscreened office and (iii) a screened office. - Inc table. (Holding answer 5 February 2002).

Answer: Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incidents of (a) verbal assault and (b) physical assault reported in Benefits Agency offices in the last 12 months took place in (i) a reception area, (ii) an unscreened office and (iii) a screened office. [32645] Mr. Nicholas Brown: [holding answer 5 February 2002]: The information is in the table. Benefits Agency incidents (2001) _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Physical assaults Verbal assaults Unscreened area 103 914 Screened area 31 1,422 Unknown location 1 43 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. The figures are based on the number of cases reported so far. Other incidents could have taken place but have not yet been reported. 2. Of the assaults in known locations, 23 physical assaults and 1,100 verbal assaults occurred in reception. The reception in Benefits Agency offices is generally a screened area.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 32645; 381 c724-5W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Crimes of violence Protection Staff Offices Working conditions Security Social Security Benefits Agency
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk