Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of trends in levels of financial settlements for local authorities on trends in levels of neighbourhood disputes involving police since 2010.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
The Government has not conducted analysis on potential impact of trends in levels of financial settlements for local authorities since 2010 on trends in levels of neighbourhood disputes involving police.
This Government has supported the police by giving them the resources they need. We have confirmed a total police funding settlement of up to £18.4 billion for 2024-25, an increase of up to £842.9 million when compared to 2023-24.
Assuming full take up of precept flexibility, overall police funding available to PCCs will increase by up to £922.2 million (6.0% in cash terms).
Decisions on how to use funding and resources are an operational matter for Chief Constables. Police and Crime Commissioners are best placed to make resourcing decisions within their communities based on their local knowledge and experience.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the meeting of the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire with the Youth Endowment Fund on 16 March 2023, whether they discussed (a) the role of the appropriate adult for children detained in police custody, (b) legal advice for children detained in police custody and (c) opportunities to divert children from entering police custody.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office works closely with the Youth Endowment Fund on a wide range of issues, specifically aimed at reducing serious violence.
Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are published on the Cabinet Office website on a quarterly basis.
Children should only be detained by police when absolutely necessary, and the number of children arrested by the police is declining. In the 10 years from 2011/12 to 2021/22, the number of children aged 10-17 arrested by the police fell by 67%. Children aged 10-17 accounted for 8% of all arrests in the latest year, compared with 14% in 2011/12.
Children detained in police custody must be provided with an appropriate adult. The Home Office part funds the National Association of Appropriate Adults (NAAN), which supports organisations providing appropriate adult services to young people and vulnerable adults in police custody.
The Home Office is a member of the steering group for the recent Nuffield Foundation-funded research project “Examining the impact of PACE on the detention and questioning of young suspects”, and the follow-up project, “Children in police custody: piloting a ‘Child First’ approach”.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the transparency data entitled Home Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, January to March 2023, published on 20 July 2023, whether any meetings that Ministers held on the Baroness Casey Review included discussions on proposals for a new Children's Strategy for the Metropolitan Police.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
Details of these meetings are published on the Cabinet Office website on a quarterly basis.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to consult with (a) the Night Time Industries Association, (b) festival organisers, (c) the police and (d) local authorities on potential licensing changes for on-site drug testing at festivals.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Ministers and officials routinely meet with various stakeholders to discuss issues relating to drug policy, and recent discussions were held with Night Time Industries Association representatives in relation to drug testing at festivals.
It is a long-established legal requirement, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, that a controlled drugs licence is needed to lawfully undertake activities including the possession, supply or production of controlled drugs.
We have been clear that organisations providing drug testing services, including at festivals, need to apply for a Home Office licence where they are undertaking activities with controlled drugs.
We have no plans to make changes to the requirement for a licence for drug testing at festivals including where drug testing is delivered on-site.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to require festival organisers to apply for drug testing licences.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Ministers and officials routinely meet with various stakeholders to discuss issues relating to drug policy, and recent discussions were held with Night Time Industries Association representatives in relation to drug testing at festivals.
It is a long-established legal requirement, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, that a controlled drugs licence is needed to lawfully undertake activities including the possession, supply or production of controlled drugs.
We have been clear that organisations providing drug testing services, including at festivals, need to apply for a Home Office licence where they are undertaking activities with controlled drugs.
We have no plans to make changes to the requirement for a licence for drug testing at festivals including where drug testing is delivered on-site.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has held recent discussions with the Night Time Industries Association on drug testing at festivals.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Ministers and officials routinely meet with various stakeholders to discuss issues relating to drug policy, and recent discussions were held with Night Time Industries Association representatives in relation to drug testing at festivals.
It is a long-established legal requirement, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, that a controlled drugs licence is needed to lawfully undertake activities including the possession, supply or production of controlled drugs.
We have been clear that organisations providing drug testing services, including at festivals, need to apply for a Home Office licence where they are undertaking activities with controlled drugs.
We have no plans to make changes to the requirement for a licence for drug testing at festivals including where drug testing is delivered on-site.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2023 to Question 193747 on Police Custody: Children, if she will publish her Department's response to the report by the Nuffield Foundation.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is carefully considering the report by the Nuffield Foundation and awaits the results of the forthcoming pilot. We will respond to the report in due course.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of appropriate adults acting in a (a) voluntary and (b) paid-for professional capacity for children in police custody.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Police custody is a core element of the criminal justice system and is critical for keeping the public safe. The Government is clear that children should only be detained in custody when absolutely necessary, and opportunities to divert children away from custody must be considered.
We expect forces to act in accordance with the statutory safeguards for children in custody, including the provision of appropriate adults. Police custody is governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes of Practice which sets out the legal framework for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers. PACE Code C is clear in Section 11.17 that appropriate adults should facilitate communication with children being interviewed. Authorised Professional Practice guidance on the operational management of custody suites is produced by the College of Policing.
We are aware of the recent Nuffield Foundation report, Examining the impact of PACE on the detention and questioning of young suspects, and its recommendation relating to the provision of intermediaries and speech and language therapists to children in custody. The Home Office is a member of the steering group for this research and officials are considering the report carefully.
The Home Office does not currently collect data on the type or status of the person who acted as an appropriate adult, but our Police Powers and Procedures bulletin published on 17 November shows that, for the forces who provided data to us, an appropriate adult was called for 99% of children in custody. We hold regular discussions with policing and wider stakeholders on the availability of appropriate adults and custody policy in general and this has included recent dialogue with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on a range of issues.
Local authorities have a duty under Section 38 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to provide appropriate adults provided for children. The role of the appropriate adult is to safeguard the rights, entitlements and welfare of juveniles and vulnerable persons in accordance with the Codes of Practice.
The Home Office provides annual funding to the National Association of Appropriate Adults (NAAN), which supports organisations providing appropriate adult services to young people and vulnerable adults in police custody. More information regarding standards and training can be found at https://www.appropriateadult.org.uk/. Home Office officials regularly engage with NAAN to discuss the provision of training to appropriate adults across England and Wales.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on the use of (a) intermediaries and (b) communications specialists for child suspects in police custody.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Police custody is a core element of the criminal justice system and is critical for keeping the public safe. The Government is clear that children should only be detained in custody when absolutely necessary, and opportunities to divert children away from custody must be considered.
We expect forces to act in accordance with the statutory safeguards for children in custody, including the provision of appropriate adults. Police custody is governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes of Practice which sets out the legal framework for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers. PACE Code C is clear in Section 11.17 that appropriate adults should facilitate communication with children being interviewed. Authorised Professional Practice guidance on the operational management of custody suites is produced by the College of Policing.
We are aware of the recent Nuffield Foundation report, Examining the impact of PACE on the detention and questioning of young suspects, and its recommendation relating to the provision of intermediaries and speech and language therapists to children in custody. The Home Office is a member of the steering group for this research and officials are considering the report carefully.
The Home Office does not currently collect data on the type or status of the person who acted as an appropriate adult, but our Police Powers and Procedures bulletin published on 17 November shows that, for the forces who provided data to us, an appropriate adult was called for 99% of children in custody. We hold regular discussions with policing and wider stakeholders on the availability of appropriate adults and custody policy in general and this has included recent dialogue with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on a range of issues.
Local authorities have a duty under Section 38 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to provide appropriate adults provided for children. The role of the appropriate adult is to safeguard the rights, entitlements and welfare of juveniles and vulnerable persons in accordance with the Codes of Practice.
The Home Office provides annual funding to the National Association of Appropriate Adults (NAAN), which supports organisations providing appropriate adult services to young people and vulnerable adults in police custody. More information regarding standards and training can be found at https://www.appropriateadult.org.uk/. Home Office officials regularly engage with NAAN to discuss the provision of training to appropriate adults across England and Wales.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made a recent assessment of the extent of the use of (a) intermediaries and (b) communications specialists for child suspects in police custody in England and Wales.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Police custody is a core element of the criminal justice system and is critical for keeping the public safe. The Government is clear that children should only be detained in custody when absolutely necessary, and opportunities to divert children away from custody must be considered.
We expect forces to act in accordance with the statutory safeguards for children in custody, including the provision of appropriate adults. Police custody is governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes of Practice which sets out the legal framework for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers. PACE Code C is clear in Section 11.17 that appropriate adults should facilitate communication with children being interviewed. Authorised Professional Practice guidance on the operational management of custody suites is produced by the College of Policing.
We are aware of the recent Nuffield Foundation report, Examining the impact of PACE on the detention and questioning of young suspects, and its recommendation relating to the provision of intermediaries and speech and language therapists to children in custody. The Home Office is a member of the steering group for this research and officials are considering the report carefully.
The Home Office does not currently collect data on the type or status of the person who acted as an appropriate adult, but our Police Powers and Procedures bulletin published on 17 November shows that, for the forces who provided data to us, an appropriate adult was called for 99% of children in custody. We hold regular discussions with policing and wider stakeholders on the availability of appropriate adults and custody policy in general and this has included recent dialogue with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on a range of issues.
Local authorities have a duty under Section 38 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to provide appropriate adults provided for children. The role of the appropriate adult is to safeguard the rights, entitlements and welfare of juveniles and vulnerable persons in accordance with the Codes of Practice.
The Home Office provides annual funding to the National Association of Appropriate Adults (NAAN), which supports organisations providing appropriate adult services to young people and vulnerable adults in police custody. More information regarding standards and training can be found at https://www.appropriateadult.org.uk/. Home Office officials regularly engage with NAAN to discuss the provision of training to appropriate adults across England and Wales.