Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 December 2003. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions Merseyside Police have (a) closed premises that are being used for drug dealing or use causing disorder or serious nuisance, (b) issued penalty notices for truancy, (c) designated an area with a history of anti-social behaviour, allowing them to disperse groups causing intimidation and take home children who are out on streets late at night, (d) used the new controls to tackle the misuse of air weapons and replica guns, (e) used their new powers for dealing with public assemblies and trespassers, (f) used their new power to move on trespassing encampments where a relevant site is available, (g) used their new powers to intervene in neighbourly disputes regarding high hedges, (h) issued penalty notices to 16 and 17 year olds for disorder and (i) used their extended stop and search powers where reasonable suspicion is held that articles made, adapted or intended for use in offences of criminal damage are being carried.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Merseyside Police have (a) closed premises that are being used for drug dealing or use causing disorder or serious nuisance, (b) issued penalty notices for truancy, (c) designated an area with a history of anti-social behaviour, allowing them to disperse groups causing intimidation and take home children who are out on streets late at night, (d) used the new controls to tackle the misuse of air weapons and replica guns, (e) used their new powers for dealing with public assemblies and trespassers, (f) used their new power to move on trespassing encampments where a relevant site is available, (g) used their new powers to intervene in neighbourly disputes regarding high hedges, (h) issued penalty notices to 16 and 17 year olds for disorder and (i) used their extended stop and search powers where reasonable suspicion is held that articles made, adapted or intended for use in offences of criminal damage are being carried. [143463] Ms Blears: These powers are contained within the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 which both received Royal Assent on 20 November 2003. The powers are not yet available to the police--they will be commenced during 2004.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 143463; 415 c865W;415 c866W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Anti-social behaviour Airguns Drugs Hedges and ditches Imitation firearms Parents Nuisance Powers Pupils Misuse Stop and search Trespass Truancy Merseyside Police
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk