(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence between Ministers and the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police in relation to the issuing of stab-proof vests for police community support officers since January 2007;
(3) whether he plans to ensure that all police community support officers are issued with stab-proof vests; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what advice the Home Office Scientific Development Branch has given to police forces on the issuing of stab-proof vests for police community support officers, with particular reference to the West Midlands Police authority area;
(5) what response he has made to the request to his Department from Unison to provide police community support officers with stab-proof vests;
(6) when he expects next to meet the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police to discuss the issuing of stab-proof vests for police community support officers; and if he will make a statement.
[holding answer 12 June 2009]: The provision of police equipment is an operational matter for chief officers informed by standards on protective equipment developed and published by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB). HOSDB develop and publish standards for a range of protective equipment for the police and advises police forces and the Government on protective equipment for police use (including PCSOs), ensuring that officers have the equipment they need to protect themselves and the public. The Home Office wrote to those forces who did not issue protective armour to community support officers to ask for clarification on their decisions. Those forces, including West Midlands Police, provided full responses which the Home Office forwarded to the right hon. Gentleman on 27 July 2007. The correspondence relating to West Midlands Police will be placed in the Library as requested.