here - United Kingdom Parliament

1233W
Written Answers
6 JUNE 2013
Written Answers
1234W
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for
the Home Department when she intends to reply to the
letter to her dated 17 April 2013 from the right hon.
Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M
Shahidul Alam. [158199]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 4
June 2013.
Offences Against Children: Internet
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Home Department what recent estimate she has made
of the incidence of child abuse images on the internet.
[158382]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government takes very seriously
the issue of tackling child abuse images online.
In 2012, 255 individuals were found guilty of the principal
offence of possessing prohibited images of children or
of possessing indecent photographs. In the same year,
1,315 individuals were found guilty of the principal
offence of taking, permitting to be taken, making,
distributing or publishing indecent photographs of children.
We do not keep information on how many of these
cases were internet-related, as the offence being committed
is the creation, dissemination and possession of such
images, rather than the means by which they are obtained.
Passports
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Home Department what plans the Government has for
citizens to be able to complete passport applications at
post offices in the future in the same way that they can
at present for driving licences and biometric residence
permits. [157809]
Mr Harper: Her Majesty’s Passport Office currently
have a commercial arrangement with the Post Office to
offer a ’Check and Send’ service. This enables applicants
to have their passport application form checked for accuracy
by the Post Office and submitted on their behalf. This is
a paper based service using printed photographs and
original supporting documents.
The Post Office currently offer an electronic application
submission for driving licences and biometric residence
permits, but at present this does not extend to passport
applications.
Her Majesty’s Passport Office, like the rest of UK
Government, has embraced the digital by default strategy
championed by the Cabinet Office. In order to deliver
the digital service our customers require we are first
launching an online application channel later this year,
starting with overseas customers. This will not initially
support digital submission of photographs or supporting
documents however we are now in the process of agreeing
our digital roadmap which will consider how this might
be achieved in the near future, but it will have the
potential to be developed into a fully digital service in
future.
Police and Crime Commissioners
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Home Department what steps her Department plans to
take to review the effectiveness of police and crime
commissioners. [158321]
Damian Green: It is for the public to judge the
effectiveness of their directly elected police and crime
commissioner (PCC). The next elections for PCCs will
be held in May 2016.
Proceeds of Crime
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home
Department what consideration the Government has
given to implementing a central bank register to facilitate
the seizing of proceeds of crime. [158383]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK is committed to tackling
illicit financial activity, which is a key priority for the
UK’s G8 presidency. Through this, and the EU, the UK
is working to ensure full implementation of the Financial
Action Task Force Standards, including ensuring access
to information in order to effectively seize the proceeds
of crime. The Government is not convinced that a
central bank register is necessary in order to achieve
this.
Raves
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Home Department what her policy is on whether police
forces should routinely breathalyse people departing
from illegal raves on farms. [158043]
Damian Green: The police have an unrestricted power
to stop vehicles and can carry out a breath test on any
driver they reasonably suspect of having alcohol in their
body or having committed a moving traffic offence or
who has been involved in a road traffic collision. If a
person gives a positive breath test, that person is arrested
on suspicion of drink driving.
Enforcement of the law is an operational matter for
the police in each case. Any general policy adopted by
an individual police force is a matter for that force’s
chief officer.
Sexual Offences
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Home Department what progress has been made on
the establishment of a European sexual offenders
register. [158219]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The EU has no current plans for
a European Sexual Offenders Register. However, public
protection is a priority for this Government and the
notification requirements for registered sex offenders in
our domestic legislation form an invaluable tool in the
management of offenders within the community and
the assessing of risk of such individuals travelling outside
the UK.
The UK is actively involved in a number of areas of
work aimed at enhancing the monitoring of serious
sexual and violent offenders travelling within the EU.
We are leading an EU funded project known as SOMEC—
serious offending by mobile European criminals. This
two year research based project is evaluating current
procedures for law enforcement and offender management,
and will publish a concluding report making
recommendations for improvements. The project has
international partners from the Netherlands, Latvia
and Catalonia in Spain.