Relieved Home Office reveals offender figures
Dr Reid said he wanted to reassure the public
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Saturday, 13, Jan 2007 08:47
The latest Home Office blunder did not result in any violent or sexual offenders being passed fit for employment, John Reid has confirmed.
Seeking to reassure the British public about public protection, Dr Reid released figures showing that of the 27,500 crimes committed by Britons which had not been entered into the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), only five had gained employment.
Of these, four were drugs-related offences while one involved assisting illegal entry into a country.
The crisis had been discovered by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), who took over the data management from the Home Office last year. Reports from Acpo said the criminal records from cases tried in Europe were "sitting in desk files" at the Home Office instead of being entered onto the CRB's database.
Shadow home secretary David Davis continued his criticism of Dr Reid, saying that the British people would be worried that the government was out of touch.
"The fact the home secretary thinks approving people with drugs offences to work youngsters will reassure the public shows just how out of touch he is," he said.
Earlier today Home Office minister Tony McNulty apologised for the overseas offenders debacle.
Speaking on the BBC's Any Questions programme, Mr McNulty said: "I apologise for the failures that there have been in terms of ministers not knowing about the backlog. I think that's right, and [it] should not have happened in public policy terms."
Mr McNulty said he was sent a letter from Acpo in October but did not see the letter until a few days ago. He added: "It was passed, as is totally normal if it's not someone's area, on to. [Joan Ryan, the minister responsible for the CRB] who answered and answered it in an entirely appropriate fashion." The letter advised that Mr Reid was informed of the situation, as Ms Ryan had not told him.