My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Crime and Policing (David Hanson) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

An Employers’ Guide to Community Safety Accreditation Schemes and the 2009 audit of Community Safety Accreditation Schemes have been published today.

This year’s Community Safety Accreditation Schemes audit shows an increase in the number of participating forces from 23 in 2008 to 26 this year. The Metropolitan Police were one of the three forces to begin operating a scheme. Over the same period, the number of accredited persons rose from 1,406 to 1,667 (an 18.5 per cent rise) and the number of employers with accredited persons rose from 95 to 109. This growth reflects the benefits of the scheme for the police and businesses. Accredited persons help to tackle anti-social behaviour, and to provide a visible and reassuring presence on our streets.

The Employers’ Guide is intended to improve the information available to employers about the scheme and to raise its profile. Four employer case studies (presented in the Employers’ Guide) demonstrate clear benefits, both for the organisation and for the accredited staff, in greater information sharing and closer partnership with the police.

Copies of the audit and the guide are available on the Home Office website and in the House Library.