Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new initiatives it is undertaking to highlight the simple and inexpensive steps that homeowners can take to reduce the risks of acquisitive crime.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is aware of the potential impact on crime of the current economic situation and that is why we are working with all the key partners including Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish Business Crime Centre…
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what good practice it will take from the crime prevention summit held by the Home Secretary on 4 February 2009.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20608 on 3 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Home Office following the crime prevention summit held by the Home Secretary on 4 February 2009.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20608 on 3 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the Safer Street project launched by Norwich Union and Norfolk Police and whether it plans to run any similar projects.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is aware of the potential impact on crime of the current economic situation and that is why we are working with all the key partners including Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish Business Crime Centre…
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, given that previous economic downturns have seen an increase in acquisitive crime, whether it plans any new initiatives to increase personal security, particularly for vulnerable people.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is aware of the potential impact on crime of the current economic situation and that is why we are working with all the key partners including Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish Business Crime Centre…
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had in relation to reducing acquisitive crime; which organisations it has met, and what action it intends to take on this issue.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is aware of the potential impact on crime of the current economic situation and that is why we are working with all the key partners including Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish Business Crime Centre…
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to hold a summit similar to the crime prevention summit held by the Home Secretary on 4 February 2009 aimed at reducing acquisitive crime in the current economic downturn.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is aware of the potential impact on crime of the current economic situation and that is why we are working with all the key partners including Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish Business Crime Centre…
4 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19205 by Kenny MacAskill on 15 January 2009, in relation to the delivery of speedier and more immediate community penalties, (a) what targets it has set, (b) when it expects to achieve these targets and (c) whether it plans to make information on the…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have been working very closely with our professional stakeholders to agree a new tighter framework for starting and completing community sentences. New guidance in respect of community service orders, which is about to be issued, will require post sentence…
4 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19206 by Kenny MacAskill on 15 January 2009, for what reasons Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority received a negative allocation of funds.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Community Justice Authorities (CJA) receive a share of overall funding calculated by an agreed formula drawing upon published workload statistics over the preceding three years. The total Scotland-wide allocation for Community Service for 2009-10 has increase…
4 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19791 by Maureen Watt on 29 January 2009, whether it considers that, if information on the number of school pupils who were caught carrying a knife was recorded and reported, it would be in a better position to judge the scale of the problem and ther…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Local authorities and schools are in the best position to locally monitor, analyse and respond to serious incidents and to identify what targeted action, if any, is required in response to local needs. Where a particular school may have a particular problem w…
4 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19791 by Maureen Watt on 29 January 2009, whether it plans to record centrally and report the number of pupils caught carrying a knife at school.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There are no plans to record centrally and report the number of pupils caught carrying a knife at school.</p>
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of all prosecutions under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was dealt with by a direct measure in the Grampian Police area in 2007-08.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The total number of charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 reported to procurators fiscal in the Grampian Police Area in 2007-8 was 4,291. Of these, 442 (or 10% of the total) were dealt with using direct measures.</p> <p >Notes:</p> <p >1. The informati…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the age profile was of those against whom (a) charges were brought and (b) prosecution was made under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in the Grampian Police area in 2007-08.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The total number of charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 reported to Procurators Fiscal in the Grampian Police Area in 2007-08, and the number of such charges where Court Proceedings were initiated, broken down by age profile of the accused, was as foll…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions were brought under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 that were dealt with by a direct measure in the Grampian Police area in 2007-08, broken down by type of offence.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: A total of 4,291 charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 were reported to Procurators Fiscal in the Grampian Police Area in 2007-08. Of these, 442 (10%) have been dealt with by means of a Direct Measure. The following table provides a breakdown by charge:<…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions were dealt with by a direct measure in the Grampian Police area in 2007-08, broken down by type of offence.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The period referred to largely pre-dates the introduction on 10 March 2008 of the enhanced range of direct measures provided for in the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.</p> <p >Of the 45,218 charges reported to Procurators Fiscal by th…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what disposals were applied to people prosecuted under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in the Grampian Police area in 2007-08.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Court Proceedings data for 2007-08 is not yet available; it is due to be published in April 2009.</p> <p >The available information is given in the following table. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 includes a range of offences including: illegal importation of d…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19678 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 January 2009, whether it is aware of any group of offenders that, while on bail, go on to reoffend and, if so, what action it is taking to reduce such instances of reoffending.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The police will take all necessary steps to prevent and deal with offending, including offending by people on bail. That is why our courts dealt with 29,000 offences committed while the offender was on bail and 7,500 other bail-related offences in 2006-07.</p…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19678 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 January 2009, whether it intends to collate further information on the number and type of offences carried out by people on bail.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information covering offences committed by people on bail and other bail-related offences is published annually under the title <i >Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts</i>. This can be found on the Scottish Government website at the following address: </p…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19678 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 January 2009, whether it considers that, in order to better address reoffending, it would be beneficial to know the type of offences being carried out by people on bail.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Yes. That is why information covering offences committed by people on bail is collated and published annually under the title <i >Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts</i>. This can be found on the Scottish Government website at the following address: </p> …
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19678 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 January 2009, whether it considers it to be of concern that information on the number and type of offences carried out by people on bail is not available.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information covering offences committed while the offender was on bail and other bail-related offences is available and published annually under the title <i >Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts</i>. This can be found on the Scottish Government website at…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new technology it is considering for introduction to police forces.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The introduction of new technology to policing is primarily a matter for the police. We work closely with the Scottish police service, police boards and the Scottish Police Services Authority to support the introduction of technology that will improve policin…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much a single data-enabled breath screening device costs.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The cost of a data enabled breath screening device is approximately £150.</p>
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the roll-out of data-enabled breath screening devices to all police forces.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is the responsibility of the Chief Constables to decide what technology to use for police operations. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is currently considering the introduction of data enabled breath screening devices as well as the IT …
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will roll out data-enabled breath screening devices to all police forces and, if so, to what timescale.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is the responsibility of the Chief Constables to decide what technology to use for police operations. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is currently considering the introduction of data enabled breath screening devices as well as the IT …
30 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide advice to parents and carers and information on who to contact for help and support if they suspect that a child in their care may be involved with gangs.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20288 on 23 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
30 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide advice to parents and carers on preventing children in their care from becoming involved in gangs.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20288 on 23 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
30 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of Gangs: You and Your Child by the Home Office in September 2008, whether the Scottish Government plans to produce a similar publication.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As part of the CIRV (Community Initiative to Reduce Violence) project “ our groundbreaking anti-gangs initiative that is working with over 700 young men in Glasgow “ a range of materials are being produced for parents which will help them support their child …
30 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the success of Operation Cougar in tackling gang culture in Manchester, as reported by the Home Office on 29 January 2009 and during which people wanting to leave gangs were provided with support from a range of partners to do so, whether similar support is offered in Scotlan…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20367 on 18 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
30 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the success of Operation Cougar in tackling gang culture in Manchester, as reported by the Home Office on 29 January 2009, whether it is aware of any Scottish police forces that deploy spotters to tackle gang culture.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20367 on 18 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
30 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the success of Operation Cougar in tackling gang culture in Manchester, as reported by the Home Office on 29 January 2009, whether it considers that the use of police spotters to quickly identify mounting tensions and who can bring in additional officers to respond is an appr…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20367 on 18 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…