The government proposed an increase in funding for policing in England of 6.2 per cent in 2003-04, and of at least 4 per cent in both 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Source: Police Grant Report (England): Draft 2003-04, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 5.12.02, columns 86-88WS, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 19.12.02, columns 73-76WS, TSO
Links: Press release | Hansard 5.12.02 | Hansard 19.12.02
Date: 2002-Dec
The government began the first ever consultation with commercial organisations on the most effective ways to combat business crime.
Source: Business Crime Consultation, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
Around 1,272,000 persons were arrested for notifiable offences, a 1 per cent increase (compared to a 2 per cent increase in recorded crime): but arrests for violent crime increased by 2 per cent, compared with a decrease of 1 per cent in the number of recorded violent crimes (England and Wales, 2001-02)
Source: Margaret Ayres, Dave Perry and Paul Hayward, Arrests for Notifiable Offences and the Operation of Certain Police Powers under PACE: England and Wales, 2001-02, Statistical Bulletin 12/02, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 6.1
Date: 2002-Nov
The results were published of a review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The government announced that it will give police officers the option of 'street bail' (whereby they can arrest someone and release them on bail without taking them to a police station), and expand the use of civilians to help in searches.
Source: PACE Review: Report of the Joint Home Office/Cabinet Office Review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Home Office (0870 000 1585) and Cabinet Office | Press release 18.11.02, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
Findings of an evaluation of the first 13 months of the national roll-out of curfew orders (from 1 December 1999 to 31 December 2000) were generally positive. It was found that tagging can be a positive as well as a punitive experience, but that it remains infrequently used compared to other community penalties.
Source: Isabel Walter, Evaluation of the National Roll-out of Curfew Orders, Online Report 15/02, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 6.4
Date: 2002-Nov
The first 'national policing plan' was published. It highlighted anti-social behaviour, street crime, drug-related crime, burglary and car crime as key areas for police forces to tackle. Charities reportedly criticised the lack of emphasis on child protection. Chief police officers reportedly criticised the sacrificing of local priorities in favour of national ones.
Source: The National Policing Plan 2003-06, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | Press release 20.11.02, Home Office
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release | Community Care article
Date: 2002-Nov
The government announced a new target of 132,500 police officers by 2004, beyond the existing 130,000 target set for spring 2003.
Source: Press release 2.10.02, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/2, Digest 118, paragraph 6.1
Date: 2002-Oct
Street crime (robbery and snatch theft combined) fell 16 per cent during the course of the Street Crime Initiative (April to September 2002), involving the ten police force areas which accounted for over 80 per cent of recorded robbery offences in 2001-02. The government said it had fulfilled the Prime Minister's promise to have the problem 'under control' by the end of September.
Source: Street Crime Initiative: Figures to the End of September, Home Office (020 7273 2124) | Delivering the Street Crime Initiative: Partnership in Operation, Home Office | Press release 14.10.02, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Figures (pdf) | 'Delivering' (pdf) | Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 6.1
Date: 2002-Oct
The government published an action plan to reduce bureaucracy in the police force, in response to a taskgroup report.
Source: Action Plan: Home Office Response to the Report of the Policing Bureaucracy Taskforce, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | Policing Bureaucracy Taskforce Change Proposals ('Dowd Report'), Home Office
Links: Action Plan | Response to Task Force Report | Task Force Report | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
Complaints against the police considered by the Police Complaints Authority totaled 7,148 in 2001-02, compared to 8,880 the previous year.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts of the Independent Police Complaints Authority: 1 April 2001 31 March 2002, HC 1008, Police Complaints Authority, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
A research review summarised the findings of previous studies on the impact of improved street lighting on crime, and concluded that it should be included as one element in crime reduction programmes.
Source: David Farrington and Brandon Welsh, Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime: A Systematic Review, Research Study 251, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Report (pdf) | Home Office press release
Date: 2002-Aug
A report described lessons learned about problem analysis, project planning and implementation from policing projects set up as part of the government's three-year Crime Reduction Programme.
Source: Karen Bullock, Graham Farrell and Nick Tilley, Funding and Implementing Crime Reduction Initiatives, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf) | Briefing Note (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
A research review concluded that closed-circuit television probably reduces crime to a small degree. Civil rights campaigners warned that CCTV is not a panacea against crime, and needs to be used with proper safeguards.
Source: Brandon Welsh and David Farrington, Crime Prevention Effects of Closed Circuit Television: A Systematic Review, Research Study 252, Home Office (020 7273 2084) | Press release 14.8.02, Liberty (020 7403 3888)
Links: Report (pdf) | Home Office press release | Liberty press release
Date: 2002-Aug
The government began consultation on an entitlement card scheme aimed at reducing identity fraud.
Source: Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud: A Consultation Paper, Cm 5557, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Consultation Paper (pdf) | Hansard
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 8.2)
Date: 2002-Jul
The government published its response to a report by a committee of MPs on the Police Reform Bill.
Source: Police Reform Bill: Government Response to the Committee's Second Report, First Special Report (Session 2001-02), HC 1052, House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | Committee report
Date: 2002-Jul
Community safety partnerships cannot demonstrate their effectiveness in addressing local concerns about crime, according to an Audit Commission report.
Source: Community Safety Partnerships: Learning from Audit, Inspection and Research, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/2, Digest 118, paragraph 6.6
Date: 2002-Jul
The Police Reform Bill received Royal Assent. The new Act contains measures to tackle the variations in performance between forces, and makes anti-social behaviour orders more flexible and widely available.
Source: Police Reform Act 2002, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Act | Home Office press release | Hansard (Third Reading)
Date: 2002-Jul
The government began consultation on an entitlement card scheme aimed at reducing identity fraud.
Source: Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud: A Consultation Paper, Cm 5557, Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Consultation Paper (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 8.2)
Date: 2002-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs gave a qualified welcome to the government's plans for police service reform.
Source: Police Reform Bill, Second Report (Session 2001-02), HC 612, House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 6.1)
Date: 2002-May
A study reviewed a local 'restorative cautioning' initiative.
Sources: C. Hoyle et al., Proceed with Caution: An Evaluation of the Thames Valley Police Initiative in Restorative Cautioning, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 542 (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 6.5)
Date: 2002-May