Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fire brigade officers have been (a) charged, (b) convicted, (c) given a custodial or suspended custodial sentence for (i) careless driving and (ii) dangerous driving arising from actions performed as part of their firefighting and rescue duties in each of the last five years.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Home Office does not hold the information requested centrally.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that police forces and chief constables enforce Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in relation to the combatting of illegal Travellers' sites.
Answered by Nick Hurd
There are a range of existing powers available for both the police and local authorities to tackle unauthorised encampments. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides specific powers to the police to move travellers from unauthorised encampments if certain criteria are met.
The Home Office works closely with the police to ensure the powers they have are fit for purpose. However, the decision on when and whether to use police powers is an independent operational decision for the police.