To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department has taken to protect businesses in Coventry from criminal activities. (268765)

Coventry was allocated £335,669 from the Police Basic Command Unit Fund by the Home Office in 2008-09 to deliver crime and disorder reduction, promote partnership working, and to assist in the delivery of the objectives set out in the Government's Public Service Agreements for 2008-11.

This funding has helped to fund two Business Improvement Districts in Coventry which work closely with Coventry's Community Safety Partnership with the aim of both improving relationships with business partners and also the response they receive in relation to tackling crime and disorder and antisocial behaviour. For example, deploying a business crime co-ordinator and working with businesses on prevention, education and target hardening advice/measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department has taken to protect (a) domestic properties and (b) families in Coventry from criminal activities. (268766)

The information is as follows:

(a) The Home Secretary recently announced a £15 million initiative to tackle burglary in domestic properties. This comprises: a national, regional and local media campaign providing crime prevention advice; specific advice on securing your home including a web-based toolkit; a safer homes fund to target measures designed to increase home security for the most vulnerable groups in society; increasing the pressure on prolific offenders; an on-line and leaflet version of home security assessment; and burglary advice packs including discount vouchers for DIY stores on home security products.

(b) Coventry has received Government funding for a number of specific projects that will protect both the community and families; for example, an initiative under the "Think Family" banner to promote early intervention that will prevent or reduce the circumstances that may lead to criminal or antisocial behaviour in families, and a Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre. Coventry is also part of several national schemes, which will help protect families from crime: it has been designated as an Alcohol Priority area; it is part of the Tackling Knives Action Programme, which includes actions such as safety arches being used at schools and additional police patrols during home time; it is part of the tackling violent crime programme; and it has also been successful in its bid for Youth Crime Action Plan funding for the next two financial years.