Commons Chamber

Monday 10th March 2025

(began 9 months, 2 weeks ago)

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None Portrait Q2. How many schools left the breakfast club early adopters scheme prior to 24 February 2025. (903074)
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and ensuring children not only get that good start to the day with a full belly, but also get the support of a club that will help them achieve and thrive.
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None Portrait Q6. What steps she is taking to increase funding for SEND provision. (903078)
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clubs. We will continue to do so. clubs. We will continue to do so.
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None Portrait Q11. What recent assessment she has made of trends in the number of school exclusions of pupils with SEND. (903084)
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Question 11.
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None Portrait Q15. What steps she is taking to ensure adequate levels of high needs block funding. (903091)
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authorities, who hold responsibility to make sure the right number of places are available in the areas where they are needed.
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None Portrait Q18. What steps she is taking to help reduce the workload of teachers. (903094)
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absolutely committed to level VII and indeed for people to continue with their education, to a good standard.
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None Portrait Ministerial statement: Syria
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Minister. With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on
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Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
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would like to make a statement on Syria. Events in Syria over the last few days are deeply concerning. We are working as quickly as possible to establish from reliable sources of information what exactly happened and who was responsible. But reports that large numbers of civilians have been killed in coastal areas in ongoing violence are horrific. The Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement yesterday that the interim authorities in Damascus must make sure the protection of all Syrians and set out a clear path to transitional justice.

This is a critical moment for Syria and for the interim authority to demonstrate their intent stop to promote stability and govern in the interests of all Syrians. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, our priority has been to support a Syrian led and Syrian owned political transition. Leading to an inclusive, nonsectarian and representative government. We have been clear anybody seeking a role in governing Syria should demonstrate a commitment to protecting human rights, unfettered access for humanitarian aid, safe destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and fighting against terrorism and extremism.

This is the only way forward towards a more sustainable, free and prosperous future for Syria and Syrians who suffered for so long under the brutal Bashar al-Assad regime. We consistently emphasised this message in all diplomatic engagements with the interim authority and with international partners. We will continue to focus on this end. The UK is engaging privately and regularly with the interim authorities at every level. Including through ministers and envoys. We support them in taking steps that would deliver a more stable, free and prosperous future for the Syrian people.

We welcomed the announcement by the interim president on creating a transitional government leading to free and fair elections. We welcome the National dialogue conference held on February 25. But the violence over the weekend demonstrate more needs to be done to bring dissident groups together and we urge the interim authority to urgently establish a clear process and timeline for the next phase of the transition. Representative figures from across Syria need to be appointed to the transitional government and the recently announced legislated council.

Our overarching objective is to see a stable Syria. In addition to supporting an inclusive political process, we are also focused on preventing the escalation of conflict in northern Syria, tackling security threats, including the threat from terrorism and the destruction of chemical weapons. We are also supporting economic recovery through lifting some sanctions and scaling up humanitarian aid. The UK like our partners imposed sanctions on the Assad regime to hold him and his associates accountable for their oppression of the Syrian people. This government has in recent weeks made changes to those sanctions.

First by issuing a general licence to support transaction for humanitarian activities in Syria and last week we revoked the asset freeze including in the central bank, which had been imposed to prevent the Assad regime from using financial assets in conducting vile oppression. We keep all our sanctions regimes under close review. We target them on those who bear responsibility for human rights abuses and oppression. It is also important to support the economic development of the Syrian people need. The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire for millions of people.

More than 16 million people are currently in need of humanitarian aid. We will continue to support those in need across Syria where it is safe to do so. Through NGO and UN organisations, we provide food, healthcare, protection and other aid in addition to agriculture and education programs. Since December, the UK announced more than £62 million in additional humanitarian aid to support vulnerable people inside Syria and across the region. In conclusion, this is a critical, fragile moment for Syria.

The country faces significant challenges as it transitions after almost 14 years of conflict. Stability is firmly in our interests. The UK remains committed to the people of Syria and will continue to stand with them for a free and prosperous future. I free and prosperous future. I free and prosperous future. I
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Priti Patel Portrait Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (Witham, Conservative)
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I am grateful to the Minister for his statement. This is a statement by the government on Syria the show, Have come sooner. In recent days, we have borne witness to some of the

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... ... Should ... Should pull ... Should pull back ... Should pull back from ... Should pull back from the brink cannot jeopardise the future. brink cannot jeopardise the future. Mr Speaker, Labour government has decided to establish contact with HDF and interim administration in HDF and interim administration in Syria. Can the Minister confirm with Syria. Can the Minister confirm with the Foreign Office, whether the government has clearly conveyed a sense of expectation about how the temperature should be taken down, temperature should be taken down, and stability restored.

Can the Minister also confirm whether there has been any direct engagement between ministers and HTS leaders at any point? And what is his assessment of the HTS response to this file and the threat posed by the disgraceful Assad regime. We note the government announced it is lifting foreign sanctions on entities linked to the disposed Assad regime. Does the violence of recent days change the government's assessment of merit lifted these kind of sanctions. Before he lifted With the allies in the region? Whether sanctions listen to the request of HTS and whether plans for further sanctions? And can the Minister also be clear with the House about precisely what conditions, criteria, and evidence is being used to drive these decisions? Or the Minister's recent visit to Turkey last week, the Minister said the UK is committed to working in partnership with Turkey to support serious transition to an inclusive and peaceful country.

But what exactly does that mean in practice? And what does he see Turkey's Roby and moving forward? On this issue specifically, can he confirm there remains no change to the Conservative government very firm position on foreign fighters, that they must not come back to the UK. What is his assessment on the Syrian state's ability to counter any Isis cells in the east of the country. And securing borders in the region on the convention of people smuggling, drugs and weapons, has he seen any progress? The government is right we need to see a's chemical weapons secured and destroyed, and this needs to be verified by the organisation for Prohibition of chemical weapons.

But as the Minister confident these weapons will indeed be destroyed. We acknowledge the government has put more funding into the Syrian missions, following the form of To be in the convention in full. We need concrete actions as well as words. Turning to the humanitarian situation, where does he judge the need is most acute? And how was he mobilising the UK situation to ensure it is being fairly distributed and reaching those innocent civilians in need? And with the reduction of O that a TA, 2.3%, can the music confirm whether Syria will continue to be a priority, given the strategic issues? Finally, the transition to a representative Of the conference of Syria, does the Minister believe this process will yield the kind of results we want to save the people of Syria? And has he discussed this through the channels he has established with interim government?
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Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will try to take as many of those questions as I can. As I think shadow Foreign Secretary will know, we have had contact at a senior level with the new HTS leadership, that includes their interim Foreign Minister, who our Foreign Secretary met on the margins of the parish meeting. We have not said ministers to Damascus yet, as many of our partners will do. We keep these issues under close review. On the question of whether or not we are consulting with Europeans on sections and other things, the Europeans have taken steps on sanctions, slightly in advance of us, I cannot remember the precise date, but they have put their relaxation of sanctions in before we have, we will, I can confirm, to the shadow Foreign Secretary, that we will keep decisions of the sanctions.

The ones that came in on Friday are very much that came in on Friday are very much focused on the economic function of Syria. As the shadow Foreign Secretary will know well, Syria is in the midst of a very serious economic crisis, the Syrian pound has lost 99% of its value. We want to protect the Syrian people from its consequences of the crisis, and so the relaxation of the sanctions is very much focused on allowing normal Syrians and the humanitarian actors to get on with their lives.

But we will keep all further sanctions on close review. She asked about HTS's process on borders, encountering terrorism, drugs, she is exactly right, Mr Speaker, to judge HTS on their actions, not their words. There have been some welcome commitments from HTS on a range of questions, and to refer to her points about O that a CPW, we have seen welcome commitments from the interim authorities, to work with them, their interim Foreign Minister has, in a very welcome way, engaged with the authorities that have now visited Damascus.

That is to be welcomed but the Foreign Secretary is right, actions not words is how we will judge.
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Monica Harding Portrait Monica Harding MP (Esher and Walton, Liberal Democrat)
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Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that at least 1,000 Alawites have been killed over the last few days are concerning. This undermines Syria's fragile position away from pictorial rule under the Assad regime, and encourages religious and sectarian tolerance. At this stage, it is critical to understand whether the violence contains clashes between different sects August it is a product of state directed policy, this must inform the government's positions on whether to lift sanctions on Syria's redevelopment and reintegration into the local community.

I note that the interim Syrian government has announced the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the violent clashes, but this must also be followed by concrete steps, to protect Syrian's of all ethnic groups, in the new illustration, add take action for justice for those take action for justice for those who have perpetuated violence. To support Syria's transition away from dictatorial rule, including embedding religious and sectarian tolerance, as well as the rights of women in the new Syrian regime.

Please could the Minister update the House and what he is doing to engage with partners in the region, including the Syrian government to promote respect and support for religious and sectarian tolerance in this area. It is important neighbouring countries like Jordan and Lebanon are generously welcoming Syrian refugees, but now face immense challenges, in providing food, shelter and essential services. Can the Minister outline how the cut to international aid will impact our ability to support Syria's economic development, including bilateral aid, to including bilateral aid, to neighbouring countries like Jordan and Lebanon, where many Syrians have sought refuge.

This
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None Portrait Legislation: Crime and Policing Bill: Second reading
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reading. To move second reading, Yvette
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Yvette Cooper Portrait Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Cooper. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I beg to move the Bill be now read a second time. This is a Crime and Policing Bill to make our streets safer. The blood neighbourhood policing back in the heart of communities after years of neglect, to give law enforcement the powers they need, to protect the public and tackle the most serious violence. And to help communities take back their town centres from thieves or thugs. And to support this government's Safer Streets Mission, two half knife crime and Mission, two half knife crime and violence against women and girls in a decade, and to help rebuild confidence in policing and the criminal justice system, by tackling the local crimes that undermine our communities most.

Across other countries, we have strong communities, British tradition of respect for the rule of law and respect for each other. A British policing tradition that goes back to appeal of policing by consent, the police embedded in communities, pulling together to prevent and tackle crime. And yet, in recent years, those traditions have been badly frayed. Town centres, neighbourhoods, public spaces, plagued by antisocial. Shoplifting and street theft have soared. While neighbourhood police have been heavily cut back. Add to many families forced to endure the agony of empty Chair of the data table, night after night, having lost a loved one to knife crime.

Yet, it is easier than ever for children to get a hold of lethal weapons online and barely any penalties for gangs that recruit children into crime and get away with it. Too many women and girls are still facing stalking, spiking, violence, and of useful stuff feeling unsafe in the streets and their homes. Even now, nearly 50 years on from the first Reclaim the Night marches in Leeds. And too many children still experiencing sexual abuse and exploitation, including criminal networks on the street and online, with abuse online getting worse and worse.

Yet child protection reforms we and others called for 10 years ago are still not in place. Trust in the police undermined by abuses of power, yet promised years ago to raise standards, still not in place. And across the country, too many of us just hear the same thing. People do not see the police on the streets anymore. They worry that respect for Law & Order has disappeared. And they fear that if something goes wrong, no one will, nothing will be done.

That is why it is time for change. That is why we are setting out this bill today, because safety and security of the bedrock of every strong community committees of the heart of our Plan for Change, the Safer Streets Mission, because everyone has the right to live in freedom from fear. At the heart of the Labour government... I will give

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way. I thank the right honourable lady

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I thank the right honourable lady for giving way, she makes a very important point about neighbourhood policing. Does she therefore agree policing. Does she therefore agree with me then that local police stations should be integral to this

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plan? Local police stations are a matter for local forces. But they can be a central part of can be a central part of neighbourhood policing. Which sadly has been heavily cut back. In recent has been heavily cut back. In recent years. In fact, in many areas of the country, neighbourhood policing cut by a 1/3 or nearly 1/2. And rebuilding neighbourhood policing, plan to put 30,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the beat, over the course of this Parliament.

Kickstarted with £200 million of funding in the next financial year. And reversing the damage done, under the last Conservative government, through years of cuts to community police. Half the number of PCSOs as they were 40 years ago. Thousands of fewer neighbourhood police officers and 54% of people saying they never see an officer on the beat. At that figure has doubled since 2010 since two many neighbourhood police have just disappeared. I will give me to my honourable friend, then I will give way to the member who signalled

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earlier. I thank the Secretary of State for giving way. A report by Harlow Council in 2023 said less than half of residents in Harlow felt safe going outside of the door, do she see the neighbourhood police guarantee being part of the way of

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guarantee being part of the way of solving this problem? My honourable friend is right, neighbourhood policing is crucial and we have seen the neighbourhood and we have seen the neighbourhood policing teams decimated. Even those policing teams decimated. Even those that were remaining being obstructed away, or merged with other teams. away, or merged with other teams. Something deeply damaging, that is why it is so crucial to get those neighbourhood police back on the streets, back into our town centres and communities.

I will give way to the honourable member, I hope he will apologise for the scale of cuts

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You mentioned the neighbourhood police, 3000 warranted officers and another 3000 will be operational police officers who will be brought back in from other places. Would she back in from other places. Would she be able to tell us when these forces are going to find out what their share of the police forces will be? share of the police forces will be? And how those 3000 that are currently in other roles will be re-signed given operational response abilities are those of the Chief

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abilities are those of the Chief Constable are not the Home Secretary? We have started with £200 million of funding for the next financial year, kickstarting the drive to put the 13,000 more neighbourhood police PSO is back on the beat. Already the police forces have been working with the Home Office on plans, and some to recruit new police officers, some to recruit new PCSOs. Some to redeploy existing police officers but then to backfill by recruiting other officers to take up their posts as well.

So we will set out in due course the plans for the next financial year as part of that £200 million. But I have to tell the house that the cuts to neighbourhood policing over the last decade were even worse than we had thought. The previous Conservative government was so indifferent to neighbourhood policing that they did not even keep a proper account of who was doing that work. They often treated neighbourhood police officers the same as 999 response officers or local detective teams, and the Home Office guidance actually allowed forces to report some of their response officers as neighbourhood police instead.

They did not have proper checks in place. So I can tell the house that hundreds and even thousands of officers and PCSOs were mis-counted under the last government. And the Home Office and National Police Chiefs' Council will later this month have to publish revise force by force figures so that communities properly can see what is happening in their area. Because this government takes seriously the neighbourhood policing that must be that community led policing in our towns and in and on

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our streets. It is courteous offer to give

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It is courteous offer to give way. But in terms of mist counting numbers, can I drill down on the point of my honourable Friend made point of my honourable Friend made earlier. Of that 13,000 new neighbourhood officers that the Home Secretary claims she has recruited, Secretary claims she has recruited, can she comment that there will be 3000 officers that will be diverted from an existing workforce? They are from an existing workforce? They are not new are they? Can she also confirm that the police funding settlement that has been put down by the Home Secretary will lead to 1873

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officers being withdrawn? I just did not hear the apology for the previous Conservative government massive cuts to neighbourhood policing. Including neighbourhood policing. Including many towns and cities across the country. Seeing their neighbourhood police/in half right across the country and communities badly let down. But I'm sure the next Conservative member to intervene will begin their question with a will begin their question with a huge apology for the damage their party and their governments did. I'm pleased to hear the honourable member ready to give an apology for the deeply damaging legacy on his

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party in government. I thank the Home Secretary for

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I thank the Home Secretary for giving way. I think she should apologise for not answering the question. There were record levels of policing under the last of policing under the last government with 20,000 extra police officers that were recruited. But I officers that were recruited. But I ask again, she has said she is recruiting 13,000 new neighbourhood recruiting 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers. Can she confirm that 3000 of those will be re- diverted from extra officers, they are not new are they?

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are not new are they? Still no apology for the damage they have done. Let's be clear, they halved the number of PCSOs. Halved them. They have cut the number of neighbourhood police officers probably by more than 10,000. We can't be precise because the measuring of neighbourhood police officers was so ropey and so all over the place we can't even be certain what the precise cuts were. This government is committed to increasing neighbourhood policing and PCSOs by 13,000.

In that first year of that neighbourhood policing increase, that will be funded by £200 million. That funding for the first year, that is already delivering plans for police officers across the country that we will set out in due course. Both to increase recruitment of new police officers, and to increase recruitment of PCSOs, and also to redeploy some police officers with those posts then being backfilled by the recruitment of other new police officers and staff elsewhere to fill those posts.

Something which I think members opposite should hugely welcome because it means, for the first time in years, getting the police back on the streets into our communities onto our streets and

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into our neighbourhoods. I give way to the honourable member at the back. I thank my right honourable friend giving way. Antisocial friend giving way. Antisocial behaviour is blighting community's behaviour is blighting community's in my constituency full stop as a direct result of the cuts made to direct result of the cuts made to neighbourhood policing by the party opposite. When I speak to local residents they expressed concerns residents they expressed concerns about the misuse of fireworks, drug dealing, fly-tipping, and dangerous use of e-bikes and scooters.

Will use of e-bikes and scooters. Will the Secretary of State as part of the Safer Streets Mission reassure me and my residence that these new neighbourhood police will tackle antisocial behaviour in communities like mine as a matter of urgency?

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My honourable friend absolutely right. You need police back on the street. Let's be honest, everyone street. Let's be honest, everyone can see it. The idea that honourable Member's opposite think that Member's opposite think that everything was hunky-dory at the end of their 14 years, actually of their 14 years, actually communities across the country can see the reality. So we need as part about neighbourhood policing guarantee to get more boots on the guarantee to get more boots on the beach, or town centre patrolled, and trusted by the community.The local perpetrators, to prevent persistent crimes.

These are not the outlandish demands, they are the basics. Return to the principles that lie at the heart of British policing. Police are the public, the public other police was the trusted officers in the community working to play. The bill gives those neighbourhood police more powers to tackle the local crimes that undermine and damage local communities. Antisocial behaviour, street theft, shoplifting, harassment in our town centres. Too many areas, those are powers that work too often we can in the past. Travelling around the country, I and many others would have had the same story many times.

The shop owners who say thieves become increasingly brazen. The crimes driven by organised gangs. Elderly shoppers who will say they don't go into town anymore because they don't feel safe. People who have had their phones stolen in the streets, the details of their lives whipped away from them. Residents driven mad by the soaring number of roaring off-road by exam scooters, driven in antisocial and intimidating way. In the two years before the election, shop theft went up by more than 60%.

Snatch theft, mainly mobile phone theft, went up by more than 50% in two years. More than 50%. Thousands of these crimes reported every single day yet the police left with too few powers to act and too often, after changes made by the previous Conservative government 10 years ago left weakened powers to tackle those antisocial behaviours and crimes. I will give weight to my honourable friend.

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Can I take this opportunity to welcome the introduction of a new offence for assaulting a shop offence for assaulting a shop worker? I have been shops in my constituency when I have seen shopworkers absolute you fearful. And I've seen food stolen under my eyes. Does the Minister agree that eyes. Does the Minister agree that local shops must become no-go areas for lawbreakers?

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for lawbreakers? My honourable friend is right. This will produces a stronger action This will produces a stronger action on retail crime. I want to thank the Co-op, the British Retail Consortium, Association of Convenience Stores and others for their determined campaigning, over many years, to protect shopworkers. Because the very staff who kept a low committee is going, staying open through the pandemic, but have in recent years had to face a truly disgraceful escalation in threats, abuse, and violence.

This measure is something that has been campaigned on for many years. And we will introduce a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker. Sending the message loud and clear that these disgraceful crimes must not be tolerated because everyone has a right to feel safe at work.

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She has talked about neighbourhoods and she has talked neighbourhoods and she has talked about community. One thing I have not heard her talk about is the rural communities that I represent in the rural crime. Could she say a bit about what the bill will deliver when it comes to them? I'm lucky to have Leicestershire, we have a rural team to seem crime drop by 24% in team to seem crime drop by 24% in the last report. But it hasn't massive impact on machinery being taken.

Can she talk about any measures that will benefit my measures that will benefit my community? Quite the honourable member is exactly right to draw attention to this because many of our rural communities are seeing sometimes different types of patterns of crime but often driven by organised gangs who think that somehow rural communities will be a soft touch, and when we have seen it sometimes GPS machinery for factories where we do believe stronger action is needed. But we are also working with the National Police Chiefs' Council on a new Rural Crime Strategy that the policing minister is working on.

I know she would be happy to follow up on specific issues that he wants to raise. Too often crimes are dismissed as low level even though they leave residence in a living nightmare and erodes community life. Here are the things that this Labour government Crime and Policing Bill will change. You're introducing you respect orders. But the police and courts can use full stop to ban repeat offenders from town centres or put new requirements on repeat perpetrators to prevent them causing havoc in the community.

For example requirements to take up drug or alcohol treatment. Currently, the police cannot immediately seize bikes or vehicles that are being used in a dangerous intimidating or antisocial behaviour way. They just have to give a warning and hope they catch the same person again. But that means it can be endless strikes, and the bike is still on the road. Frankly one strike should be enough. If the police find you using a bike or a vehicle in a dangerous or antisocial way, this bill means they will be able to seize it straight away and get those dangerous damaging bikes off the road.

We will give the police stronger powers to tackle the rise in snatch there. An Constituents friends and families have had their phones stolen and can track it through services but when they tell the police where their phone is, nothing is done. So we will give the police new powers. They have electronic evidence from tracking technology on the location of stolen goods, to be able to enter and search premises without waiting for warrants to be put in place stop alongside that, ministers are working with tech companies and the police to pursue stronger action to design out and dis-incentivise phone theft.

So we can go after the criminal gangs who are making people's lives a misery, stealing phones on the street. We will also take stronger action on shoplifting. 10 years ago, the previous Conservative government introduced a new rule. Characterising shop theft as low value and sending a signal that has shaped the police response ever since that that kind of crime should not be taken fiercely. It became a Tory shoplifters charter. A signal to thieves and gangs across the country they could operate with impunity wandering from shop to shop stealing away because nothing will be done.

But that kind of crime spreads. Create a sense of lawlessness and huge anger and frustration among the law-abiding majority who see criminals getting away with it and respect for the law hollowed out. So yes, this government will finally end the damaging £200 rule.

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Will you also agree it is not just the shoplifting, it is the fear just the shoplifting, it is the fear that is then put into our communities of the shopworkers? But also our local corner shops, a local also our local corner shops, a local accessible shops are therefore elderly people that cannot always elderly people that cannot always get out to supermarkets, or people that have difficulty. It has put the fear on them as well.

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fear on them as well. My honourable friend is right.

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My honourable friend is right. The disrespect, but also a sense of fear can create, and huge frustration. Workers about the crimes that they see. But I'm glad to see there are some signs on the benches opposite of a change of heart. Members recognising how damaging their approach to town centre crime has been. The shadow Home Secretary has written on Facebook " The police must have zero tolerance, he puts it in capital letters, to shoplifting and theft in Croydon.

Otherwise it will escalate. Stealing, even less than £200, is Stealing, even less than £200, is illegal. " So the police must focus ruthlessly on catching criminals and pursue every line of inquiry. Who would have thought it. If that is what he now believes, while earth didn't he take the opportunity in the two here is that he was that policing minister scrap the £200 threshold? It said all the wrong signals across the police. We know what part of his remedy to the disappearance of neighbourhood police and the soaring level of town centre crime, he said, provide public to have the powers of citizen's arrest.

And where it is safe to do so I would encourage that to be used including potentially a physical challenge otherwise it will escalate. We will put aside the intriguing suggestion that perhaps the shadow Home Secretary wanders around with handcuffs in his pocket. I wonder if maybe he just misunderstood the principle that the police and the public and the public are the police. What they meant was neighbourhood police in the community not leaving the community pick up arms because the pick up arms because the As for reform? Looks like that too busy dealing with an internal antisocial behaviour to even show up! So yes, this government will be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.

Something that hasn't happened for far too long. Alongside the action on community crimes the bill also introduces much stronger measures and some of the most serious crime of all including the knife crime that is destroying young lives. Teenagers and young people who don't get to achieve their ambitions or fulfil their dreams and parents and families (. -- Left bereft.

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Last year, only four in 10 night possessions actually resulted in a formal criminal justice outcome. formal criminal justice outcome. Does the Home Secretary agree that by increasing police powers to seize, retain and destroy knives which may be legally owned which may which may be legally owned which may be used in committing a crime, will actually reduce the number of people

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carrying knives? He makes a really important

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He makes a really important point, we need to both parental -- prevent young people getting access to dangerous weapons in the first place but also make sure there are proper interventions including referrals to youth offending teams and we don't simply have a system that shrugs shoulders when young that shrugs shoulders when young people are caught carrying knives. It is recorded by the police rose by nine% in the two years up to the summer last year. Many people in this House will know the story of Ronan Kanda, Rhona was just 16 when he was stabbed to death with a ninja sword just yards from his home.

He was killed by two other teenagers who bought not just the sword but more than 20 other lethal weapons online with no questions asked and no proper checks. It's because of the tireless campaigning by his mother that we have already launched plans to ban ninja swords following the implementation of the zombie knife ban and we commissioned a sergeant to an end-to-end review of knife sales published a few weeks ago which is driving some of the new measures we are introducing as part of this bill.

I will give way to my noble friend then to the member but I will just make a couple of other points first. The bill increases from six months to two years imprisonment, the maximum current penalties for offences related to the sale of Offensive Weapons Act but rolling the claimant review will also bring forward amendments to the bill in this House to introduce stricter age verification check with the stringent two-step age verification system for online knife sales so customers have to submit photo ID at the point of purchase and again on delivery, and it will be a legal requirement to hand a package containing a knife to the buyer alone.

I give way to my

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honourable friend. I think the Home Secretary wholeheartedly for her work on this wholeheartedly for her work on this important matter. In my constituency 13-year-old Ollie Stevens was attacked and brutally murdered by two other boys, they had seen something like hundreds of images of something like hundreds of images of knives online, on 11 different social media platforms and I warmly social media platforms and I warmly welcome in particular the consultation she has announced to consultation she has announced to look into the potential penalties for tech executives who fail to act

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responsibly on this important area. My honourable friend raises a really important point and he has raised the terrible case of the killing of Ollie Stevens with me before and I know how incredibly before and I know how incredibly devastating that has been for the whole community as well. He is right whole community as well. He is right that the online systems make it to -- social media make it too easy for -- social media make it too easy for young people to be able to get hold of the weapons and also the content too many young people are seeing too many young people are seeing online and is why the young -- measures part of the Online Safety Act will strengthen the requirements Act will strengthen the requirements on tech companies around serial visible to children next summer expected later this summer will be important as well.

He is also right that we are introducing measures will bring forward amendments during the course of the bill to give effect to our manifesto commitment to introduce personal liability measures for senior managers of measures for senior managers of online platforms that failed to take action on illegal content containing knives and Offensive Weapons Act and will introduce requirement for sellers to notify bulk or suspicious sales of knives to the police because we have seen cases where effectively young people were able to become effectively arms traders buying huge numbers of illegal weapons which should not have been sold to them and then distribute them to the community as well.



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Knife crime is a grave issue that I am very welcome for any measures I am very welcome for any measures that can help reduce it, I have the next Thursday debate on knife crime and I hope to see good representation from both sides the representation from both sides the House and debating how we can reduce the number of children and young people involved in knife crime both people involved in knife crime both his victim and perpetrator. The question I would like to ask is with regard to knife sales online, 52% of regard to knife sales online, 52% of fatal stabbings involve a kitchen fatal stabbings involve a kitchen knife, only 3.6% involve a zombie knife.

I appreciate there are measures in place to reduce the ability of people to obtain kitchen knives online, but everybody has a knife drawer, a drawer full of knives at home, how to be take

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measures to reduce that? He makes a really important

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He makes a really important point, we know there is an issue about young people being able to get some of these really lethal weapons because it becomes part of what they because it becomes part of what they want to do, part of their search for status is to carry particular kinds status is to carry particular kinds of weapons but he is of course right of weapons but he is of course right that people can get access to dangerous knives in different ways and we need stronger prevention across the board, is why the young preachers despite futures program is

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particularly important. The government commitment to introducing a young futures program to prevent young people from being drawn into crime is welcome especially as you services and hubs were hollowed out under the Conservatives full stop is the Home Secretary agree that prevention must be at the centre of the mission to tackle knife crime in our

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communities and country? Mail noble friend is right and in order to tackle this devastating crime we must address the prevention, prevention online, in the community, access to weapons also the response when young people also the response when young people are found carrying knives, and then the wider punishment and response as the wider punishment and response as part of the used -- youth just assist in the vengeance to turn assist in the vengeance to turn things round T.

And also to tackle some of the criminal gangs who are drawing young people into crime and violence in the first place including drawing them into county lines, including drawing them into drugrunning and into the kinds of criminal activity that leads to violence to the carrying of knives and to dangerous crimes later on. That's why it's so important that the bill will also introduce for the first time a specific offence of child criminal, because gangs should never be able to get away with

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exploiting young people in that way. Point raised by the member

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Point raised by the member opposite of kitchen knives which are the main weapon used, will the Home Secretary look at the issue of pointed kitchen knives which is what causes so many deaths? Both the causes so many deaths? Both the existing knives and also the existing knives and also the manufacture can be persuaded as some do to so live knives with a rounded

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point? My honourable friend makes an

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My honourable friend makes an interesting point and this is something that has been raised with us as part of the coalition against knife crime that we have brought together, bringing together campaign families, campaigning networks and organisations, they have raised this and as a result that she was being looked at further as well. There are a range of measures both in the bill on the face of the bell and also that will be brought forward as amendments which together these measures may -- make up bonus law.

His mother has said, this -- I wish this was done years ago my son would be with me today. We are taking action in memory of Ronan but also as a tribute to his mother and all his family have campaigned so hard to keep other children safe. The bill also brings in stronger measures to tackle violence against women and girls, the ably abuse an And according to the crime survey for England and where one in four women has experienced domestic abuse, one in four has suffered sexual assault, one in five has been stalked.

These are the most traumatic and appalling crimes. It is high time we treated this as the national emergency it so clearly is. Decade after decade we have said the warm words in this House and get to little has changed. It is imperative not just through this bill but across-the-board, this is part of our ambition to half violence against women and girls within a decade, an integral part of the safest mission because no one should live in fear.

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Giving a chance to make a point for the record. We are very pleased Home Secretary, those of us represent Northern Ireland think there's 51 clauses that will affect there's 51 clauses that will affect Northern Ireland, through a consent motion. I think it's important that we recognise the benefits that will we recognise the benefits that will have not just for here but for Northern Ireland as well. Can the Minister just confirm there may be Minister just confirm there may be one or two other ones we would like to see but on perhaps the Minister has had a opportunity to speak to has had a opportunity to speak to the Minister wrote relevant, the policing and justice minister Northern Ireland to understand what we would like to have which we would

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like to see for the future. Anki so much for top We have had discussions with the Northern Ireland ministers and very happy for those discussions to happy for those discussions to continue. I am very conscious of the time and I know how many people want to speak so if I can I will now make to speak so if I can I will now make progress through the remaining measures. Because we do have as part measures. Because we do have as part of the legislation measures that of the legislation measures that will better protect people from stalking, making stalking protection orders were more widely available introducing a new criminal offence introducing a new criminal offence of administering a harmful substance including by spiking.

Measures that I know the Member for Rotherham has long campaigned for around strengthening the management of offenders in the community to introducing enhanced notification requirements for central -- sexual offenders, registered sexual offenders and a bar on changing their names where there is a risk of sexual and stronger measures to protect children, one of the most This bill will create a new duty to report child sexual abuse, backed up by criminal sanctions for those who seek to cover up abuse by preventing or deterring someone carrying out the duty, something the independent enquiry on child sexual abuse recommended, something the Prime Minister and I both called for over a decade ago.

I will also make grooming and aggravating factor in the sentencing of child sexual offences because these are some of the most vile and damaging of crimes, and it will introduce new criminal offences to combat the use of artificial intelligence technology in the making and sharing of child sexual abuse and stronger action against those who organise grooming online where the scale of abuse and crime is increasing steeply. If I may I will give way

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one last time. I thank the Minister greatly for doing that, I recognise what's happening in clauses 45 350, 54 happening in clauses 45 350, 54 about mandatory duty in England to report child sexual abuse. And I report child sexual abuse. And I wondered if I might draw the Minister's attention particularly Minister's attention particularly the Secretary of State's attention that there are exceptions dating back to 1603 under canon law for can back to 1603 under canon law for can passions relating to -- confessions passions relating to -- confessions relating to treason, also present in the section of the Terrorism Act of 2,000 relating to terrorism which cover those faith leaders but I wonder if the Minister could meet with me to discuss how we might help the various churches and faith leaders and volunteers to make sure that they do mandatorily report when they come across the stuff in they come across the stuff in

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The policing minister is happy to meet the honourable member to discuss the detail of this. I think it is imperative that all institutions, all organisations across communities take response across communities take response ability for tackling these appalling and damaging crimes. Alongside that we are bringing in measures around we are bringing in measures around national security including introducing a new youth diversion introducing a new youth diversion order to help manage the increasing number of young people who are being investigated or arrested for terrorism -related activity where the counterterror police have said that their caseload of young people has trebled in the space of just three years.

And more action is needed. There are further measures, I'm sure we will discuss in committee and later in this debate around strengthening standards, in policing, ensuring that chief officers and local policing board have the right to appeal the result of misconduct boards to the Police Appeals Tribunal. To make sure that those who are not fit to serve can be removed from policing but also the standards of police officers who do an incredible job across the country can be maintained. And on accountability we will bring forward amendments to establish a presumption of firearms versus who are charged with offences during their duties will have their anonymity preserved during the court process so we can maintain the confidence of firearms officers in the work that they do as well as the confidence of communities.

Safety from harm is not a privilege, it's a fundamental right that should be afforded to everyone no matter the circumstances will stop no one should be left to live in fear because of crime and antisocial behaviour in their communities. Under this government, safer streets is a mission for us all, to draw our communities together, put police back on the beach, choose the respect orders, the action on off- road by, stalking, spiking, action on grooming and knife sales, stronger action against criminals. Stronger support for victims, restoring respect for the rule of law and police to our streets.

Ultimately, to build a better fairer Britain founded on safety and security for all. I commend this built to the house.

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The question is that the bill be read as second time. Because there are many people wishing to contribute and I get to Back Benchers there will be a time limit

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Benchers there will be a time limit of five minutes to begin with. I called the shadow Secretary of State. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Let me start by paying tribute to the brave police officers up and down the country who on a daily down the country who on a daily basis put themselves in the line of danger to protect us and to protect danger to protect us and to protect our constituencies. Every morning when an officer puts on his or her uniform, they don't know what they might encounter during their working
17:03
Chris Philp Portrait Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)
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day, they don't know if they might day, they don't know if they might be attacked. Yet they take that risk to protect us and I'm sure the whole house will want to join with me in expressing our thanks and gratitude expressing our thanks and gratitude to the work those brave men and women do on our behalf every single day. And I remember as police day. And I remember as police Minister a year or two ago being moved the National police Memorial service that year was held I think service that year was held I think in Cardiff.

Marking the memory of those officers who had lost their those officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty. I remember meeting the families of those officers whose families have been blighted by their relatives who had lost their lives. I'm sure all of us have come across cases like this in a constituency. I am thinking of someone who lost their life in that Croydon custody centre a few years ago. And of course all of us will be thinking of PC Keith Palmer who lost his life not far from here protecting us in Parliament.

We owed them all a debt of gratitude. I would like to start by addressing one or two of the broader points which the Home Secretary raised in her speech, before turning to the substance of the bill. The first point I would like to pick up on is the question of police officer numbers. She spoke about this extensively, picking out a particular subset of police officers was I wondered why was she kept picking on this one particular subset of police officer numbers.

I think I know why. It is because police officer numbers in total last police officer numbers in total last . That is more police officers than we have ever had at any point in our

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country's history. I thank the shallowness of giving

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I thank the shallowness of giving way. He is making an important point. Does he accept that between point. Does he accept that between 2010 and 2020 for the population of the UK increased but also the nature of crime and convexity of crime of crime and convexity of crime increase. I often have constituents who are stressed out and working who are stressed out and working long hours and does he accept the argument he is making is slightly flawed because the population has flawed because the population has increased, complexly of crime has increased the amount of time officers spend on tackling crime has

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changed? As I say record numbers of police officers was the butt if the honourable gentleman wants to measure police officer numbers against demand, one of the relevant against demand, one of the relevant metrics to consider, I will answer the question, one of the relevant metrics to consider is the overall metrics to consider is the overall volume of crime that the police have to investigate. That might be the number one looks at in deciding number one looks at in deciding whether police numbers need to go whether police numbers need to go up.

According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales which according to the ONS is the only statistically meaningful measure of crime, tween 2010 and 2024, overall crime fell from 9.5 million incidents to 4.7 million incidents. A reduction of 51%. Over that period of time, we saw a 51% reduction in overall crime but an increase in the number of police officers to that

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record number. Those are the facts. I thank the Shadow Minister for

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I thank the Shadow Minister for giving way. Does he recognise that giving way. Does he recognise that sexual violence went up by 300% recording crime under his government? And when he talks about government? And when he talks about police numbers would you like to mention how many police officers left because of conditions in the left because of conditions in the police force and through mental

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health and physical health issues? Petition in the police force is something we have to take certainly. I'm trying to recall the numbers from each year approximately 3%, between 3% and 4% leave owing to retirement. And a further 3% to 3.5% leave before their retirement age. The 3% non-retirement rate of leaving is much lower of course than most professions but I'm sure we would like it to be lower. The last government started doing work on mental health support for police officers I'm sure the current government will continue.

Let me say a word about the future. Having hit record police officer numbers, I am anxious to make sure those record numbers are maintained. The funding settlement announced by the Home Secretary for the police and the police minister a few weeks ago increased by over £1 billion. But when you go through the funding pressures which police forces across England and Wales face and you add them all up, kidding of course the £230 million extra police forces have to pay for national insurance, the funding pressures don't add up the funding pressures don't add up to that amount, they add up to over £1.25 billion.

The funding pressures are about £116 million more than the funding increase. There is a gap. The consequence of a gap is that police forces across England and Wales may have to cut 1800 officers in order to make that funding shortfall up. The onward gentleman is showing extreme enthusiasm that I think should be rewarded.

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I thank the shadow home secretary for giving way for top made play of for giving way for top made play of the numbers in 2010 and 2024, and is a former local government councillor I say to him the ward I represented I say to him the ward I represented in 2010 had a full-time police officer and two full-time PCSOs. When his government left office in When his government left office in June 2024 there was one part-time June 2024 there was one part-time PCSO.

Would he care to apologise to the public for that disgraceful record?

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record? I will not be apologising for delivering records ever police numbers. If his local force was not deploying those officers in the best way, he should be taking that up with his local Police and Crime Commissioner. In light of the number of speakers wanting to speak I probably ought to get on to the bill in front of us. When I picked up this bill, I must confess I experience excitement. I thought, Home Secretary has been in opposition for 14 years, not quite long enough but there we are, my thoughts during that 14 year period, she must have come up with lots and lots of good new ideas.

And I picked up the bill, excited to find out what new things might be contained in it. But as I turned the pages and scrutinised its contents, this strange feeling of familiarity came over me. A sense almost of dej vu. Quite a few measures in this bill I had seen somewhere before. In the Criminal Justice Bill mostly introduced by the last government. In the government's press release which they immodestly issued a couple of weeks ago and this bill was introduced at first reading, the government highlighted approximately 35, in fact exactly 35 headline measures, and I went through checking those measures to see how many of them had been copied and pasted from the previous government.

The answer is about 23. So this is a bill apparently two thirds of which has been copied and pasted from the previous government. I know Home Secretary works closely with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and views are something of a role model, but emulating her copying and pasting may not be the best thing. All of these new offences, the spiking offence for example, the intimate image offence, the duty to report the new criminal fence of possessing a bladed article with intent, and these are all good measures, measures introduced by the last government.

And would by now have been legislated for were it not for the unfortunate early general election. So I congratulate her. I congratulate her for using the copy and paste function on her home office computer and emulating so many of the measures in the previous bill. Happy to give way.

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Is here where he sounds increasingly like is saying that on the powers of the police, on the the powers of the police, on the numbers of police officers, that voters got it wrong? That sounds voters got it wrong? That sounds incredibly insulting to the public, and an apology would frankly be better. Is he aware that in better. Is he aware that in Southwark we have fewer officers the Southwark we have fewer officers the point of the last election but he said came too soon.

It did not come soon enough for my electors. They

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still have fewer police in 2025 they had in 2010. The Metropolitan Police as a whole does in fact have record officer numbers as well. But they could have had an extra one and half thousand officers if the police and officer Sadiq Khan had bothered recruiting them. In fact Sadiq Khan was the only Police and Crime Commissioner in the country to miss

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his recruitment target. Would he agree with me that

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Would he agree with me that unlike some of that Police and Crime Commissioners representing honourable members across the house, honourable members across the house, yes we have a record of Conservative Police and Crime Commissioners who in the case of Devon and Cornwall in the case of Devon and Cornwall has seen the reopening of 14 across Devon and Cornwall and perhaps they Devon and Cornwall and perhaps they might like to take lessons from that? Quite she is quite right. Conservative Police and Crime Commissioners do tend to have much better track record on keeping police stations open and on delivering lower crime figures.

I would like to ask the Home Secretary some questions. Maybe the police and Mr reply. There are some measures that were in the previous government Criminal Justice Bill that have disappeared in the new one. I would be interested to hear what the government is thinking. One of the areas missing other measures on nuisance begging. The intention of the last government was to repeal use of statutory instruments, the Vagrancy Act 1824, once the when you replacement measures on the statute books.

Those new replacement measures were contained in the old bill. I see the new bill does not have those nuisance begging measures. Can the police minister either by intervention now or perhaps in a winding up tell the house what the government's plans are in relation to repealing or not the 1824 act? And what they plans are around nuisance begging. If they were to repeal that act using the Statutory Instrument without putting any new measures in place, there would obviously be a gap in the criminal law.

I think the whole house would appreciate an update on that. There was a measure in the previous government's bill to compel perpetrators who had just been convicted of a criminal offence to appear in the dock for sentencing was there was a power to use reasonable force to do that. Had been discussing cases where someone had been convicted and then refused to appear in the dock to face justice. The measure is not in the new bill. I would appreciate knowing the government's thinking.

My third question relates to the new offence The criminal behaviour order for those people who assault shopworkers welcome, but the previous bill, the previous version has announced had a measure that said if someone repeatedly assaulted a retail worker, I think it was three times or more than they would subject to electronic monitoring, tag. I don't see that particular provision in this version, again I would be interested in hearing the police minister's view on that. Let me turn now to a matter which the Home Secretary made a great deal of in her speech.

That is the change made Around shop theft less than £200. Listening to the Home Secretary and the government communications around this you would think it had ceased to be a criminal offence in 2014. That is of course not the case, shoplifting goods of any value, including under £200 was and always has been a criminal offence subject to section 1 of the theft act 1968, the change made in 2014, I was going to develop a point then I'll be happy to take interventions. The change made in 2014 changed it from being an either way offence to a summary only offence, either way means it can be tried in the magistrates court for the Crown Court, either way means magistrates only.

It was still a criminal offence and people could still be convicted of up to now a year in prison for committing it. It certainly wasn't decriminalised and the government's own impact assessment says that about 90% of the convictions or charges for shoplifting were under £200 and tried in the magistrates court. So if it was ineffective why were 90% of charges under £200? She claims this will herald some sort of extraordinary change in the way shoplifting is treated. But I would respectfully refer the Home Secretary to her economic note 1007, page 28, paragraph 144 which I'm sure members here have all read.

In that paragraph, silence. In that paragraph it says that the central scenario in the government impact assessment says that the number of charges with this change will remain constant. The government's own impact assessment says there will be no change in the number of charges as a result of this alteration so when the Home Secretary points to this are some kind of silver bullet I'm afraid to say her own impact assessment says something very very different indeed. There is actually a potentially adverse consequence of this and it's quite a serious point and I would ask the Home Secretary to think about this genuinely quite carefully because what is going to happen when this offence is made either way rather than summary only? If lots of people who are charged will elect you have a crown court jury trial.

That will have a couple, instead of the magistrates court trial. Magistrates court trial generally gets heard for a not guilty plea on six to eight weeks, relatively quick. Crown Court you reach while could be 1.5 years to be heard. The first thing I would caution is that instead of these not guilty, making quite a serious point it would be good think about this will stop instead of these cases being heard in the magistrates court on six to eight weeks there could be a circa 1.5 year delay which I'm sure isn't the government intention that is what will happen if this changes made.

The second outburst consequence is that it a lot of the shoplifting cases currently heard in the magistrates court end up in the Crown Court before a jury very valuable and scarce Crown Court jury trial time which should be used for serious cases like rape and murder, GBH, all of those very serious offences, instead of that valuable gas court time being used for those more serious offences it will get taken up with this. I understand she was to send the signal I really do, I would just ask the government to reflect carefully on the potential unintended consequence that this change may have, making this as a serious point and I would really ask the government to give it consideration because May and up having the opposite effect to that which they intend.

There are one or two things which I would like to further talk about the Home Secretary raised, the first of those is knife crime. There are samosas in this bill designed to address knife crime which we will support, I'm sure of us here would want to fight the scourge of knife crime, responsible for about one third of all homicides and I'm sure almost all of us would have encountered a constituency case, I will never forget attending the funeral of 15- year-old Eliane and am in Croydon who was murdered on the morning of September to 27th 2023 at 8:30 AM on wealthy road in central Croydon by 17-year-old perpetrator with a knife.

And seeing the grief her parents suffered and her little brother Kobe is something I will never forget I'm sure we are all going to want to fight knife crime for that reason. In addition to the measures in this bill which will support only grateful if the police minister would confirm that the hotspot patrolling in areas where knife crime has a problem will be started in the last government will be continued and the funding will continue. I think I really could make an important difference. It's also important that stop and search powers are used.

In my view taking knives of the street is the most important thing, in London stop and search takes or in the past took about 400 knives a month off the streets. Nice that could have been used to kill someone like Eliane. I'm concerned the stop and searches going down for misplaced concerns about community tensions so I would encourage the government to get police forces to use more stop and search and to perhaps amend legislation including pace Kodai to make the use of stop and search easier full stop I spoke to a police officer in Croydon last Sunday about stop and search and they said that he felt they are worried about misconduct proceedings, if they use the power stop and search, so I would like to make it easier for police officers to use those powers to protect the public.

I like to the government views on that but this is an area where we are minded to table amendments to give the police more confidence to use those stop and search powers to save lives like -- minister a year ago I provided funding to explore new technology to scan for knives at a distance, distance of maybe 10 metres, not very far. Which would mean people walking in the streets and areas where knife crime has a problem could be scanned and they held a knife, had a knife concealed on knife, had a knife concealed on Would be identified.

That technology about a year ago was emerging, I put the money behind it to try and explore, to develop it to the point it could be deployed and I was told by the company doing that and by the Home Office officials that buy about the spring of this year, spring 2025 a version of that technology would be available that could be used experimentally on the streets. I would be grateful to know, maybe in an intervention now of the police minister could, whether that work has been carried forward and if that scanning technology is ready to deploy because it really could I think helped take knives off our streets and save lives.

I would be happy to take an intervention now or perhaps later? OK later.

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I'm grateful to my writable friend it does seem to me that the good work that the government is doing in this bill by criminalising doing in this bill by criminalising possession of knives with intent is possession of knives with intent is going to be undermined if you have to wait for somebody actually to take out the knife and commit an attack before you can discover whether or not they've got a knife. Surely if there is a separate offence arising from mere possession offence arising from mere possession it's particularly important as my right honourable friends says to take measures which will enable you to discover that someone possesses that knife for youth had a chance to do harm?

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My right honourable friends is absolutely right. If we are going to absolutely right. If we are going to prosecute these offences and put more potential perpetrators in prison and critically protect the public, we do need to tax more public, we do need to tax more knives are being routinely carried knives are being routinely carried -- detect more knives, that does mean will stop and search and the use of knife scanning technology of the kind I just described to identify those knives before they identify those knives before they are used.

My noble friend puts it are used. My noble friend puts it very powerful indeed. Other areas where an opposition may be minded to move amendments would include an amendment setting up a statutory national enquiry into rape gangs. For some reason the government have only set up local enquiries in five areas, some local authorities are refusing to hold enquiries which I think is scandalous, we know about 50 towns are affected so having enquiries into just five of those towns is not good enough.

I will in a second on this point. Moreover these local enquiries don't have the statutory powers arising under the Inquiries Act 2005 to compel witnesses to give evidence, the chairs of the local enquiry in Manchester resigned last year because even today public authorities were covering this up. We need a national statutory enquiry and we intend to try and amend this bill to do that if the government , to get the truth local councils,

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local councillors, the police, the CPS were all involved to a greater or lesser extent in ignoring or covering up these terrible offences, we need to get the truth. We as a government are taking

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We as a government are taking very seriously the culture of child grooming and gangs but in the previous role when you are minister previous role when you are minister in charge of crime and policy... I

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wasn't, you said you. Intervention short and sharp. During the previous role of

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During the previous role of Minister policy and policing you attended, the Minister attended the attended, the Minister attended the 352 meetings, could you please

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explain why not one single one of those was on child grooming? Of course as she will know that falls into the portfolio of the safeguarding minister who during our time in office had dozens of time in office had dozens of meetings on that topic as she will meetings on that topic as she will of course know I did have multiple meetings on operation city area designed to combat rape and serious designed to combat rape and serious sexual assault. I think the Speaker sexual assault.

I think the Speaker is keen to move on to Backbench speaker since there is so much interest in the spell so I will just ask the police minister when she winds up this debate to update the House on the use of technology to

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catch perpetrators, particularly... I would like to thank the shadow Home Secretary for giving way and I Home Secretary for giving way and I think there is a lot in this bill think there is a lot in this bill not mentioned which is really good particularly around tackling what violence against women goes in the legislation around stalking, some work carried on cross-party over the work carried on cross-party over the last years whether it increasing the age of consent for marriage from 16 to 18, tackling some of the forced to 18, tackling some of the forced marriage issues, whether it's testing which I helped put through the last Parliament but would the honourable, right at my right honourable friends work with me perhaps on looking how we can perhaps try and convince the government to look at introducing legislation around first cousin marriage and looking around some of those really serious issues and how we can include in this legislation some of the sexual offences which relate to that as well.



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I do support what he has proposed around first cousin marriage, the health implications of first cousin marriage are deeply alarming, I do support his proposal and I think it is something we could look to take is something we could look to take forward in this bill and put to a test in a boat of the House. I must test in a boat of the House. I must conclude, my last question for the police minister in winding up is for an update on the use of technology to combat crime, particularly the use of retrospective facial soon and use of retrospective facial soon and live facial recognition which would allow the police to catch criminals that would otherwise not be caught.

It's I support strongly and I would gladly support her if this is work she wants to continue. I am glad I got finished now, I'm glad to see so many familiar clauses in this bill, we broadly support the intent of this bill but of course what really matters is delivery. It's making sure that those record police numbers are catching criminals and are increasing the conviction rates, those police numbers and the results they deliver are the yardstick by which this government will be measured but I look forward to scrutinising this bill as it passes through the House and putting down constructive amendments doing its various stages.

various stages.

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I can't possibly do justice to

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I can't possibly do justice to the many needed and will cost measures in this bill in the few minutes I have talk about the effect minutes I have talk about the effect on the justice system and a couple of specific concerns. The new of specific concerns. The new criminal offences, I have counted 27 criminal offences, I have counted 27 new offences. The bill is being considered at the time and there is
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Andy Slaughter Portrait Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)
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considered at the time and there is a lot of uncertainty about how the criminal justice system will operate in the future. There are two reasons for that. The first is that it is in a bad way for last summer prisons reached bursting point and measures were needed to make sure people would not be sent to prison rather than release. And the Crown backlog reached a record level of over 73,000, despite the previous government setting a target to reduce it to 53,000.

In response to each of these crises, the government commissioned a wide range of views of the criminal court chaired by Sir Brian Leveson and another review, which is both likely to have a significant effect on the criminal justice system. The new bill will need to come into effect when the criminal justice system is in a state of flux. Whatever proposals the government decides to take forward, but legislating to create a number of new offences makes it difficult for anyone to know the effect of the offences and what they will be.

These are both problems that have been left by the previous government. It is a difficult matter that needs to be addressed. Can I briefly turned to knife crime which I raised earlier? Between April 2023 and March 2024, 262 people were killed by sharp instruments. The Home Office seeks to identify the sharp instrument in over 160 of those cases. And the type of life that can be identified 109 were kitchen knives. In other words two thirds of the identified knives used to kill people that year were kitchen knives.

So there is a growing campaign to phase out kitchen knives with pointed tips. And to have them with rounded tips. Pointed knives are much more likely to sever arteries and these are far more likely to be fatal. Of course there are millions of pointed knives in drawers all over the country. The saving knives group of which I remember is supporting a pilot group to have rounded knives. The government can encourage manufacturers to replace pointed knives with rounded knives and discourage the sale of pointed knives.

An I would support the launch of a life modification system, to have an impact on the type of knives used. We ought to extend this, but all of this requires legislation. He does not need to add to the weight of this bill. I am grateful for the indication the Home Secretary go. Finally I would like to say something which should be in the bill and is not and that is about the law of gypsy and Traveller communities, who face a lot of prejudice.

Those sanctioned by the previous government who, the inclusion of part four of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The legislation gave extra powers to ban gypsies from an area for 12 months including arrests and fines and seizing the homes. A High Court ruling determined that these powers were incompatible with the European Convention of Human Rights. This bill is a further vehicle to rectify these adjustments. I would ask the Minister if she could give an indication about whether the government is going to attend to this matter.

It clearly has to because of the determination of the High Court. The sooner it is done, the better. The future of a very vulnerable very discriminated against community depends on this, and I hope the government will correct the fault of its

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predecessor. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. There are elements of this bill that we welcome. There are some we would not be spending this much not be spending this much parliamentary time on, and some we raise a weary Liberal eyebrow at what we dust off the well worn what we dust off the well worn reasons why civil liberties matters all of us. The biggest area of all of us. The biggest area of disappointment for us is the missed opportunities. Some of the topics not covered and the chances not not covered and the chances not taken.

We welcome the opportunity to scrutinise the bill as it works its way through Committee stage and beyond. Pushing the government to go
17:35
Lisa Smart Portrait Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)
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further in some areas suggesting that it maybe should take yourself off for a little lie down in a quiet off for a little lie down in a quiet room as it seems to have got itself over wrought when it comes to others. Key things we are pushing others. Key things we are pushing for is restoring proper community policing. Without that we simply policing. Without that we simply won't deliver the frontline policing that my constituency and communities across the country need and deserve.

We all agree that everyone should feel safe in their own home and in feel safe in their own home and in their own neighbourhood. Yet after years of Conservative mismanagement, is not the reality in many of our communities. The previous government gutted neighbourhood policing slashing over 4500 Police Community Support Officers since 2015. It should come as no surprise that 6000 cases are closed every day without a suspect even being identified, or that just 6% of reported crimes result in a charge.

I will give way.

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Thank you. I think it is very important that we reflect on the impact of that underinvestment in neighbourhood policing was specifically the cultural feeling of specifically the cultural feeling of insecurity, the way that people feel that the crime will not be responded that the crime will not be responded to. That has pervaded every society especially I hear it on the doorsteps every time I go out. That doorsteps every time I go out. That is going to take a long time for us to get back from.



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to get back from. I thank him voice intervention. I completely agree with him. Crime statistics are important but the way that people feel about crime also is hugely important for all of our community. And it is felt acutely in constituencies like mine in Hazel Grove we have towns and villages with shopworkers reporting that they are facing a real surge in shoplifting. Many tell me they have no expectation that the police will respond. We have had incidents where charity shops have been burgled.

These organisations just cannot afford to absorb the losses. Another persistent concern raised by my constituents is the plight of illegal off-road by. I know that is felt in all of our constituencies, residents feel intimidated by the antisocial and often dangerous behaviour. Local officers tell me they don't lack the power to act, they lack the tools and resources and capacity to enforce existing laws. So we will be scrutinising the government's proposals here, especially as they relate to under 18.

The new government must return today neighbourhood policing model bobbies on the beat who are visible, trusted, and properly resourced. Any element of this bill that does that will receive Liberal Democrat support. What else to be supporting this bill? Part four of the bill deals with the criminal exploitation of children and others. It is welcome. Part five seeks to update the law around sexual offences. Of course we need scrutiny to make them as effective as they can be but they have our support.

If this were Lib Dem bill we would not be talking so much about criminalising those who climb on war memorials. We will be protecting the important rights to protest rather than make it harder for this rights to be exercise. We are surprised more than a bit disappointed that there is no mention of the bill of bringing domestic abuse aggregated offences. I thank the member for Eastbourne for the work he has done in this area. We all agree that mystic abuse devastate lives, and the criminal justice system must properly recognise its severity was often abuse is escape appropriate justice because domestic abuse is prosecuted under general offences like common assault or GBH.

And that fails to capture the full nature of the crime. We urge the government to ensure that victims and survivors received the protections they need and deserve, and I'm sure the member for Eastbourne will have much more to say on this in due course.

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I wanted to go back to be clear about what you just a moment ago is he saying that she does think that he saying that she does think that climbing on a war memorial is unacceptable behaviour and that she unacceptable behaviour and that she unacceptable behaviour and that she would be happy for that to carry on because that seems to be what she was saying but to me that sounds, I'm sure that is not the case love

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I'm sure that is not the case love love the clarification? It is or was a pleasure to be intervened on by the honourable gentleman. What I said was if it was a Lib Dem bill which I look forward to moving in the fullness of time, we would not be spending as much time talking about this as a criminal act. There are so many priorities for this government and I will talk about a number of things that we are disappointed not to see here at the expense of one of the 140 pages of the bill talking about the issue the honourable gentleman raises.

One of them which we wait with bated breath for as for the new government to crack down on water companies that pollute our rivers with impunity. Nowhere is this clearer than in my community because sewage in our rivers, and part of the country estate which is the beloved green space in my constituency was turned into a sewage swamp after heavy rainfall in the New Year. The council plan to transform the road into a meadow but it was flooded with raw sewage.

The current laws allows that water companies to get away with this. That is why liberal Democrats will continue to push to make sewage dumping a specific criminal offence to these executives can be held accountable for the damage they do to our communities. The government's failure to make reference to rural is unacceptable. I heard the Home Secretary's response to the honourable member who is no longer there, to his intervention. It is indeed welcome that a Rural Crime Strategy is on the way.

But we are pushing for that to be made a commitment in this bill. Rural is not an inconvenience, it is a growing crisis. The NFU has reported the cost of Rural Crime Report to over £52 million in 2023. With organised gangs targeting farm machinery, vehicles, and GPS equipment. But less than 1% of police officers are in dedicated rural teams. And I heard about this myself when I met with local farmers last week. I heard very clearly the impact that organised fly-tipping, organised equipment theft has on these farming families.

Finally, this bill has a gap when any discussion of legislation for more regulation of facial recognition should be full stop liberal Democrats having clear. This technology is a threat to privacy, it is discriminatory and does not make our streets safer. The previous government pushed ahead with its use despite serious concerns from human rights organisations, legal experts and even their own independent Biometrics Commissioner. The police should be focusing on evidence-based crime prevention, not rolling out flawed and biased surveillance technology.

Any use of it by the police must be transparent, unbiased, unregulated. We can see police forces coming up their own rules with which to operate. It is long past time for the government to set the framework. It would be a

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pleasure to give way. The system currently being used is not biased. It has been tested by the National physical laboratory and biased problems which existed eight years ago have now been resolved. years ago have now been resolved. She says and regulated it is not regulated. There was a Supreme Court case which sets out and that is now enshrined in authorised professional enshrined in authorised professional practice which is national College of Policing guidance.

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of Policing guidance. I don't recall hearing a question from the shadow home secretary. The point that he made, I'm sure he would welcome it been further clarified through this legislation, it is not mentioned. I agree with what he said earlier. It is not mentioned in this bill and I'm sure we would both welcome scrutinising from perhaps different starting point ending up somewhere that our police forces can feel comfortable that they know exactly what the rules are exactly how to make best use of any new technology that is coming through.

The government and this bill the potential to deliver real change but only if the government listens. This means a return to proper neighbourhood policing for top it means giving rural police resources they so desperately need. It also means protecting civil liberties. It is time for this government to show it is serious about preventing crime, and enabling our police to act when crime has been committed. All of our communities across the whole country deserve nothing less. deserve nothing less.



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There are many areas where the British people had to put up with crime and decay in the last 15 years but the breakdown of Law & Order but the breakdown of Law & Order might be the most profound. Victims felt unprotected, criminals went unpunished and crimes simply went unpunished and crimes simply went unchecked. Meanwhile the law-abiding unchecked. Meanwhile the law-abiding majority looked on in horror, police officers felt frustrated and without the tools to act. I'm delighted to the tools to act.

I'm delighted to be supporting this bill that starts to turn the tables on 14 years of
17:45
Paul Davies Portrait Paul Davies MP (Colne Valley, Labour)
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to turn the tables on 14 years of neglect. I welcome the government's plans to introduce 13,000 extra neighbourhood police officers and put a named police officer in every community. To introduce respect orders and real punishments for the so-called low crime such as antisocial behaviour and off-road by have plagued communities thanks to Tory amnesty. To protect retail workers including scrapping the tourist shoplifters Charter this decriminalised theft under £200. I remember speak to shopworkers in my constituency of Telford during the election who talked about the yobs walking into the shop, nicking items off the shelves and walking straight out because they knew the police would take no action.

To create a duty to report child sexual abuse and increase sentencing for the monsters who organise child grooming. To crack down on knife crime, on selling weapons to under 18's and give power to seize and destroy bladed articles and so much more. All within months of this Home Secretary taking office. I urge the government to go further, to strengthen neighbourhood policing which is at the heart of its mission to take back our streets. Increasing powers for police officers to tackle antisocial behaviour is among the most important measures in this bill.

But we mustn't stop there, there are CSOs, local authority enforcement officers device will work in supporting the police and being friendly faces in our communities. They also should be given the powers to deal with these low level antisocial behaviour and also the yobs on our streets. We can also make our streets safer by introducing stand-alone deportation orders for foreign national offenders who endanger public safety. This government is that Mike has deported over 3,000 criminals since taking office, but often of the several thousands of pounds have been spent in the Criminal Justice System.

I also welcome clause 105 which requires registered sex offenders to notify the authorities if they change their names, again it's about helping the public feel safe and secure. They will know that someone convicted of sex offences isn't hiding amongst them and victims will know they aren't somewhere repeating their crimes going undetected because this ridiculous legal loophole. When we were elected we promised our constituents that we would help them take back control of their streets. The first priority of any government is to keep its citizens safe, at home, at the border and around the world.

For the last 14 years it has been a source of national shame that we didn't do that. There is a lot of work to do to restore public trust but with this bill we will make vital first steps towards protecting victims, punishing criminals and preventing crime. Let me finish on this note, the shadow Home Secretary said there was an unnecessary or regrettable general election, in my constituency of Telford they voted for change and I urge the government to get on with it.



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I will be as brief as possible. Can I first of all start by a Can I first of all start by a general point, I sat here long enough not today of course, but over enough not today of course, but over the years every government comes in with a criminal justice bill and then a year later another and a year then a year later another and a year later another, and then the next government comes in and starts with
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Iain Duncan Smith Portrait Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP (Chingford and Woodford Green, Conservative)
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government comes in and starts with a Kurram or just spell. -- Criminal justice bill. The reality is for justice bill. The reality is for those who have been here long enough we've always got another reason why we need another criminal justice bill and this goes on. I want to be a little more rational about this I can't say, if passing laws did the job of ending crime then we would have long ago managed it. It's how we deal with the things that get behind the crime.

The Centre for Social Justice recently published a really good report called the Lost boys, it's about the generation of particularly since post-COVID, of young boys that have become dysfunctional with serious mental health problems, who often end up on the street being sucked into gangs, and it is the attitude and the behaviour of those boys which gives rise to the violence and subsequent murders that take place in the street. Putting a knife in someone's hand doesn't make them a murderer, putting a knife into someone's hands who has already been broken in the wrong attitude, that is where murder comes from and where the violence comes from.

I recommend to the government to get that report and read it because it's staggering reading for us all, these young boys are becoming men and they going to live in and out of prisons, violence will be a part of their lives and drugtaking and drug abuse and abuse to women. Boys and men make up the crime. Young women and girls is a tiny proportion of criminals, it's men who are the problem and boys who start that. That is critical to get ahead of this, if we want to solve knife crime is in the heads and brains of those young boys and subsequently men whether crime is committed, the knife is only the final act in all of that.

When I say those who recommended the rounding of the blades, may be but I have to tell you a young guy will just go and grind that rounded point into a sharp point and get on with it if that's what they want to do. They will do nothing to allow them to get in their way of that and I simply make that is observation. Thus my observation. I also recommend to the government the assault on retail workers rights but I have struggled endlessly with police to get them onto the streets, to arrest people who are shoplifting.

They are not shoplifting for a sandwich, they are stripping stores of thousands of pounds of goods. It's a serious offence and antisocial behaviour and anything more they can do to crack down on that is the first crime that most of our constituents notice and fear exactly, they threatened those in the shops and the people serving them. It's really important we get on top of that. I want also to come round to one question, I had in the amendment in the previous criminals dispel on cycling, I actually had to.

One was on cycling and the danger of danger cycling at the moment, an observation when the Minister gets up, when is that gone? Talking to the transport office about it we need to sort out the e- bikes and also the dangerous very fast bikes and cyclists on the road who commit offences. Very quickly

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give way full stop It will also help if it were made mandatory for all cyclists to have a mandatory for all cyclists to have a bell so they could at least warn veterans of their approach.

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veterans of their approach. I take that into consideration. The main point I was making was we The main point I was making was we have had deaths on the streets where cyclists cannot be prosecuted for cyclists cannot be prosecuted for having killed someone, we are still using a piece of legislation from using a piece of legislation from the mid 19th century which was offensive and wild carriage driving which is not acceptable but it hardly ever commits anybody and convince them either.

I encourage the government to please look again at danger cycling where people genuinely abused the Road Traffic Act and nothing ever seems to be done. Particularly now on e-bikes which are very dangerous make dangerous even if they are not committing a criminal offence they are causing nature danger and antisocial behaviour is a big thing our constituents notice they feel very threatened by people who write them down on the pavements. It may seem small but it's not for sub I want to end by congratulating the government on bringing in the offence, I introduced an amendment into the last criminal dispel and I'm really pleased to say the government has picked it up and put it into this bill.

There are really big issues about people who feel threatened, we saw individuals that take over their houses and commit criminal offences from them and some of them get arrested themselves having had no control over their house, many have health problems, many are stuck in back rooms and abuse themselves and having an offensive this allows the police, said this all along, if they have a suspicion that is taking place they can move into the House and they can deal with it straight away.

I congratulate the government on that, previous government took my amendment so hopefully this is something we can all join forces on. One question I have to ask the Minister when she gets up. Offenders often use coercion and grooming and manipulation, I would ask her if in the bill it says an absence of consent, does she think that an absence of consent will alone be good enough to be able to convict And manipulation? It's the thing I'm slightly concerned about can I raise that with her and I hope she can deal with it in the end.

At the end of it all, criminal justice bill is a good thing.
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Kim Johnson Portrait Kim Johnson MP (Liverpool Riverside, Labour)
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This is a huge bill with over 300 pages of measures, today I want to focus on the extra powers to the police protest spell -- particularly relating to clauses 86 and 95. Organisations such as Liberty, Amnesty and Big Brother watch as well as the trade unions raise loud alarm bells. I also want to take this opportunity to recognise more broadly the dangerous direction of travel of the increasing criminalisation of legitimate and peaceful protests in this country which, as many here today will recognise, is being mirrored around the world.

In recent years we have seen the introduction of a vast swathes of anti-protest measures, including new police powers that have been used increasingly to clamp down on freedom of assembly and expression. These are being extended yet again in the bill where we are debating today. The Tories controversial police crime tax 2022, the Public Order Act 2023 and the serious disruption regulations act of 2024 -- 2023 or brought in wide- ranging new powers. These include allowing the police to impose conditions on any protest which is deemed to be disruptive or cause serious annoyance to the local community and bringing in sentences of up to 10 years in prison for damaging memorials such as statues.

For those of us who force those measures tooth and nail we have now seen our fears realised with clampdowns on the right to peacefully protest, last month we saw the aggressive policing of the national Palestine protest lead to the arrest of an estimated 77 protesters with even members of this House being called in for police questioning as well as an 87-year- old Holocaust survivor who was carrying flowers to lay for the dead children of Gaza. We cannot underestimate the chilling impact that this heavy-handed policing of peaceful protest will have on our basic rights and freedoms.

From striking workers to the national Palestine demos, to the farmers protests huge demonstrations and protests are becoming more commonplace. Right across the Pliskova spectrum as people across the country and beyond feel they are losing their voices, in the workplaces and the political sphere. Instead of continuing down this dangerous road we should be taking the opportunity that this bill presents to roll back on some of these powers, defend our Civil Liberties and restore our proud traditions of freedom of speech, expression and assembly.

In this country we have, I'm not taking interventions sorry we have a proud tradition of standing up for what we believe in but this has increasingly come under threat and the measures in this bill continue on this trajectory. I hope the Minister and government will take these points on board and consider amendments at Committee stage to rollback on some of the existing Coney and anti- protest legislation and restore our Civil Liberties. Moves that I am sure we can find common ground on across this House.

Lastly I want to turn to the impact that some of the provisions in the bill will have on further criminalising Roma and Traveller communities, and the impact that certain clauses will have on GRT communities like those living in the Parkside in my Liverpool Riverside commune my constituency in particular I want to raise concerns around part one clause 3 of this bill that extends police dispersal powers that as the traveller movement has raised risks leading to even more heavy-handed policing of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities as do the anti-protest legislation in this bill, we must see these measures within the broader context of the increasing criminalisation of these already marginalised communities.

As such I hope the government will go back to the drawing board and consider using this bill to repeal section 63 to 60 EE of the Public Order Act. This bill is the first Order Act. This bill is the first

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under Labour, it's time for regeneration let's use it as an opportunity to protect our most marginalised communities and defend civil liberties. Thank you for giving me the

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Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on the Crime
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Rebecca Paul Portrait Rebecca Paul MP (Reigate, Conservative)
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opportunity to speak on the Crime and Policing Bill before us today. Firstly I would like to thank Surrey Firstly I would like to thank Surrey police all they do to keep a safe environment. I welcome much of what is in this bill I won't repeat what is all ready been saddened that I will focus my remarks on what I believe is required to tackle the scourge of commercial sexual exportation in this country. It's very easy for people to think that exploitation doesn't affect them, it doesn't happen in their neighbourhood, but it's more common than many realise happening behind closed doors in very normal everyday streets.

Sexual exploitation often of young women is an awful crime that destroys lives before they barely had a chance to begin. Exploited repeatedly day in and day out these young people are treated as merchandise with the sole purpose of turning a profit for pimps and traffickers. It is therefore incumbent on us to break the business model. That starts with outlawing the advertising of individuals for prostitution. Classified ad sites like Beaver Street are the sea of sexual exportation, healing sex trafficking by providing a convenient by providing a convenient To access what they want no To access what they want no local area full stop buying sexual services can be as easy as ordering a pizza although prostitution is legal, pimping which is the provision of a prostitute to perform a sex act with a customer for gain is not, and there are often tell- tale signs on the advert like the same phone number being used for multiple ads that these women are not acting freely and willingly.

They are under the control of a pimp who is profiting from that exploitation. Not enough is being done by the sites to weed out these adverts, they had years to get to grips with it but they still haven't. We must take some responsibility as well, because you will no doubt be staggered to hear that such advertising are prostitution is entirely legal. This is because legislation has not kept pace with technology. Advertising prostitution in the phone box is illegal under section 46 of the criminal police act 2001, that's when the same things online it is In 2023 the Home Office select committee cited evidence that 75% of victims of trafficking for sexual exportation are advertised online.

The cross-party group concluded, website advertising institution significantly facilitate trafficking for sexual exportation. I would urge ministers to take the opportunity to close this loophole. We have a similar issue with the regulation of online pornography compared to off- line. Our current laws have not been updated quick enough to recognise the huge shift online and the need to apply the same standards across the board. A survey done by the Children's Commissioner in November 2022 found that one in 10 children receive pornography by the age of nine with half having seen it before they turn 13.

The impact on this travesty chemically seen with 47% of young people between the ages of 16 and 21 stating that girls expect sex to involve aggression. Huge damage is being done to young women and men from this damaging content. It is normalising and sexualising choking and strangling of women during sex, which it is important to note is illegal in off-line pornography but not online. Although not illegal per se, degrading acts like spitting on women are common in online porn. Is it any wonder we are seeing such disdain and poor treatment of girls in our society? If we are serious about tackling this issue and having violence against women and girls, we have to crackdown on online porn and ensure it is regulated to the same standards as off-line.

The independent pornography review led by Baroness Bertin has recommended the same for online and off-line was I welcome. The main statutory regulator is the British Board of Film Classification. It is responsible for classifying pornographic content before it can be published and ensuring it does not contain illegal content. Any such off-line illegal content cannot be sold or supplied in the UK. And the same rule should apply to that online. This simple change could be transformational, effectively executed and properly enforced.

I recognise the technical and practical challenge of trying to regulate the World Wide Web. I thank the secretary states today for listening to my two asks and I look forward to hearing from her whether she is open to accepting amendments to ban online prostitution adverts and to bring the regulation of online pornography in line with that off-line.

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Thank you. Madam Deputy Speaker,

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Thank you. Madam Deputy Speaker, when I was serving as a police officer, the demands on policing were changing rapidly. They continue were changing rapidly. They continue to do so. During my time, we saw big increases in the reporting of domestic violence and sexual domestic violence and sexual offences. Neighbourhood policing was decimated, and as the police scrambled to keep up with the huge increase in the reporting of these hi harm previously hidden offences
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Jonathan Hinder Portrait Jonathan Hinder MP (Pendle and Clitheroe, Labour)
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hi harm previously hidden offences which are now thankfully no longer tolerated in our society. But it was at just that time the Conservatives at just that time the Conservatives were busy slashing police budgets. Not only did the policing workforce shrink by 20,000 officers across the country, as members across this house will be familiar with, but less talked about and just as important are already ancient technology systems falling further behind the criminals we seek to catch. The database which holds arrest and conviction dates for offenders across the country celebrated its 50th birthday last year.

The call handling system used by the country's biggest, it was 40 years old last year. I welcome this government's focus on policing which is so vital to creating a fairer country where everyone feels safe and secure in their local community. This bill signals our commitment to rebuild neighbourhood policing. But also to modernise our police service. To provide the tools required to keep up with changing crime patterns. I welcome the modernisation of our criminal law in this bill. Finally taking stalking seriously, make it easy to tackle spiking, and commonsense powers to go after the thieves.

I welcome the focus on shoplifting and antisocial behaviour in our town centres. Introduction of new respect orders for the persistent offenders promised in our election manifesto. Every frontline police officer knows that a huge proportion of crime is committed by a tiny proportion of the population. And it is through a relentless focus on those individuals that we can make small towns like those I represent in my constituency safe and welcoming for that law-abiding public once again. I hope this bill is the start of a debate about what we want our police to do, and where the services are better placed to act.

We need our officers to have the backing of this place to tackle both the hi harm offences, serious violence, domestic violence, and sexual offences. But also the common lower-level crimes that blight our communities. If everything is a priority, then nothing is. If we can be clear eyed about where the police should focus their time and efforts, then we can set them up to succeed. And we can rebuild the public's confidence that the police can keep them safe.

Thank you.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I would like to use my time in this debate to talk about domestic abuse. My family and I, my mum die, know all too well what domestic abuse all too well what domestic abuse looks like. But I am sorry to say that the law does not go far enough. that the law does not go far enough. To recognise this crime. That is because currently there is no because currently there is no specific offence of domestic abuse in the law.

And that is leaving many survivors without respect and without protection that they deserve. Instead many domestic abuse as our convicted things like ABH,
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Josh Babarinde Portrait Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)
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GBH, assault, battery, which don't reflect the full gravity of the reflect the full gravity of the crime. One can be convicted of ABH for domestic abuse but can also be for domestic abuse but can also be convicted of ABH for a brawl in a pub with a stranger you have not met before. The Domestic Abuse Act of before. The Domestic Abuse Act of 2021 disco some way to recognise domestic abuse in the law. It's domestic abuse in the law. It's defined it formally.

Created a number of offensive about coercive number of offensive about coercive controlling behaviour. But still, no specific offence of domestic abuse. And that is leading to all sorts of problems. If we take the government's early release scheme which it had to implement in the light of the states the last government left our prisons in, where many people were let out early to the tune of 3000 people, the government made a commitment to try to exclude domestic abuse as from being released early.

It was not possible to comprehensively do that in the words of the Justice Secretary because you can only exclude someone from such a scheme on the basis of the offence that they have committed and nothing else. There is no offence of domestic abuse in the law which meant that many domestic abusers, people convicted of ABH, were released early. One survivor who was affected by the situation was Elizabeth Hudson. Her abuser, her ex-husband, held a knife to her throat, among many other terrible incidents at home.

He was convicted of actual bodily harm. And he qualified for early release under the scheme. Were we to create a specific offence of domestic abuse, we can exclude those people from such a scheme. Specifically, if we created an offence of domestic abuse aggravated GBH, ABH, assault, battery, damage, whatever, in exactly the same way that we do have racially aggravated hate crimes, we would be able to protect survivors in this way. Another advantage of being able to recognise domestic abuse in this way that this abuse in this way that this legislation does not yet as we can properly cohorts these individuals will stop I asked the Ministry of Justice how many domestic abusers are in prison at the moment.

And what is there reoffending rate? Very simple, very basic. The response was that it is not possible to robustly calculate the number of domestic abuse is in prison, or there reoffending rates. This is because these crimes are recorded under the specific offences for which they are prosecuted. I.e. There is no specific offence of domestic abuse, and to convince these people. So it is in light of these challenges, in light of Refuge Mankind, Women's Aid and other organisations, and survivors themselves are backing my proposals to create a separate domestic abuse aggregated offence in the law.

I also extend my thanks to those members on the benches opposite who have privately written to me to express their support for the proposals that I am championing, and for proposals that I hope the government will accept in its Crime and Policing Bill throughout the passage of this piece of legislation. We need to ensure that we properly respect and protect survivors in Eastbourne and beyond, and I hope that members across the South will work with me. My daughter was open, to help make that a

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reality. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.
18:12
Lee Barron Portrait Lee Barron MP (Corby and East Northamptonshire, Labour)
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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Our communities deserve to feel safe. On our streets, in our homes, safe. On our streets, in our homes, and in our shops. Whilst I'm referring to shops, I think it is only right that we place on record the tireless campaigning that has been done to get a specific offence for an assault on shopworkers. It shows the best of our movement. The profile perception and presence of profile perception and presence of the police needs to be restored.

We need police on the beat, they need to have the powers to do their jobs and people need to feel safe again. In Corby, our police station was closed down in 2017. So the perception was that the police were gone. The presence disappearing because all people did was go through what used to be there police station. And the profile that went with that, all of a sudden it was shut. Our dedicated response unit was also moved out at the same time. All we had left was a police hub on the upper floor of a public building that was sometimes open any two days a week.

We had people on bail been told to take selfies and send them to a number so they could demonstrate that they were approving the conditions of the bail. That is not good enough for the people of Corby. Many have lost faith. Why? Because for over a decade they have been let down. They call 999 and no one shows up. They report a crime and nothing happens. They see criminals getting away with it again and again. Because it it is the truth, and you cut policing, crime goes up, and everybody pays the price.

Thousands of officers ripped off our streets, closing down police stations, cutting PCSOs, and left entire towns without proper policing. That is not good enough for the people of Corby and East Northamptonshire. People feel like the system is given up. They don't feel safe in their communities. What this bill does is it toughens up policing. So crime has real consequences again. This bill gives police the stronger powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, by introducing respect orders. This bill also threatens existing antisocial powers as well as removing the need for the police to issue a warning before seizing vehicles being used and you socially.

This bill is a key part of delivering this government Safer Streets Mission. Alongside this, the government will recruit 30,000 extra neighbourhood police officers making sure that every community has neighbourhood officer. The 2025/26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for policing in England and Wales. That funding includes £193 million to Northamptonshire forces. It is an increase of over £11 million. As I said before, it is about profile, perception, and presence. That is why I'm not only urging members to back this bill, but leading the campaign to bring back a police station and is dedicated response unit Corby.

The government has made sure the money is there and there is consensus in the constituency for its need. We have businesses lined up in order to support us. We have massive support in the constituency who have signed a petition now for the return of their dedicated policing, dedicated response unit, and its police station. With this government and this bill, the funding, now it is this bill, the funding, now it is
18:16
Jim Allister Portrait Jim Allister KC MP (North Antrim, Traditional Unionist Voice)
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There is much that is good and necessary in this Crime and Policing Bill, I do welcome the fact that 51 of its 137 clauses will apply to Northern Ireland. I have some disappointment about some of the clauses which are excluded from Northern Ireland. One in particular is clause 90 which relates to the desecration of war memorials. We have had a spate of such incidents in Northern Ireland and therefore I am disappointed that that particular clause doesn't apply.

In relation to the all-important matter of child sexual abuse, part five applies with the exception of clause 36. I do ask the Minister to look at why clause 36 is not being applied to Northern Ireland. Because without it they are applying the rest is quite incongruous. In clause 37 et cetera we rightly make it illegal to have a paedophile manual to describe how to make child sex abuse images, yet 36 which makes it an offence to possess a child sexual abuse image generator does not apply to Northern Ireland.

How could that be right? There is a logic which is absent there, it must apply if the rest of the part is to apply. I trust that is an oversight that will be rectified. Could I then say that in clause 123 subclause three we have hidden away something which will be of particular interest to many in Northern Ireland. For the first time this clause will make it an offence to put on a lamppost or have a banner which glorifies a prescribed organisation.

That is a good thing. That is necessary. I do welcome the fact that that is the intent because when we go to the Explanatory Notes it tells us that is exactly the purpose of this. It would for example enable the seizure of a flag or poster which arouses reasonable suspicion the individual who displayed it was a member or supporter of a prescribed organisation. That's good. That then focuses attention on the disparity of the failure of this bill to deal with the and -- inadequacy of the offence of glorification of terrorism full stop which is to limp and largely unused.

We now arrive at a situation where you couldn't legally put a banner up that says, to use the Republican mantra up the RA, which means up the IRA, that organisation that murdered thousands of our citizens. You couldn't under the spell put that up on a lamppost as a banner and that's good. But you can say it under glorification of terrorism. So that hideous, horrible Republican mantra up the RA which is a chorus from a Republican song which glorifies terrorism, which says things like, lyrics like, the Brits will never leave until they are blown away, who are, up the RA.

Salmon missiles in the sky full stop that's glorification of terrorism. Of course it is. But yet under our legislation that is not defined as glorification of terrorism because you have to be advocating that which would emulate and encourage others to engage in terrorism. Some might think it does, but if you take what is on 123 and make the offence that which promotes the interests of a prescribed organisation, then you have done the right thing but you need to transfer it across.

Into the glorification of terrorism. Why should it be right to be illegal to have a banner which says up the RA to address thousands of kids through a song as happens every August in Northern Ireland and seeing up the RA. Maxing. That needs to be recognised and dealt with.

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Thank you for the opportunity to
18:21
Lauren Sullivan Portrait Dr Lauren Sullivan MP (Gravesham, Labour)
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Thank you for the opportunity to speak in this incredibly important bill. Like many constituents I bill. Like many constituents I welcome the mergers -- measures this undertaking to tackle serious crime and antisocial behaviour to make our streets safer. I would like to pay tribute to the police, another public service that has been undervalued and underfunded for well over a decade. They put their lives on the line to keep us safe and uphold the law. Many measures in this bill will directly impact their man my constituents.

Many of which have been brought to me through casework. When I knocked on the doors in my constituency immigration they told me about the nuisance off-road by, they blighted our streets, often our green public spaces, our parks, intimidating the public. Often these bikes are known as -- owners are known to the police but they lacked the powers to do anything but give them a simple warning. Now I am pleased to see this bill proposes to seize these vehicles that are being used antisocialist.

The other issue that I heard most often on the doorstep was fly-tipping. That disrespectful fly-tipping that is used by so many organised criminals. A few years ago the council started a fly-tipping in tort enforcement team and they investigated many, took many support -- to court, three years on 386 community protection warnings. We have put people in prison including another 50 fly-tipping finds. This is incredible and this is what should be happening across the country. I am grateful that the bill is looking to strengthen some of those antisocial behaviour powers on fly-tipping.

Incredibly welcome. As a new MP I hold many surgeries like many in this room. I have been shocked at the terrible experiences that some of my constituents have had to face. I would like to pay tribute to them for having the courage to come forward and tell their stories. I've heard women changing their lives, their life routine for fear of attack dealing with stalking from an expert. So I welcome the strengthening of the stalking protection orders -- X partner.

I've heard from a retired paramedic Peter Xi'an who was assaulted violently after he simply asked people in his would land to stop their dogs tearing up the forest floor. -- Peter she hand. After being violently assaulted and three years of legal issues the man who seriously assaulted him was sentenced to two years suspended sentence and fined £750. The impact on Peter who already suffers PTSD from his work as a paramedic was significant. And yet they have still not received the money.

We must let people who have experienced crime see the justice they deserve. That trust in the Criminal Justice System must be restored as well as the faith that in knowing if you call the police they will come. There are consequences and this is the first step in this bill that will back people and not criminals.
18:24
Wendy Morton Portrait Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
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There is much that I welcome in this bill today because of course it was announced by the last government, but I do think this government needs to go further and we will push them on this. A major part of this bill is to focus more heavily on neighbourhood policing and this is commendable. I have always been an advocate in this chamber for greater levels of neighbourhood policing on our streets and more visible policing within our communities. Let me start by paying tribute to my own neighbourhood policing teams who serve my own local community day in and day out, they are truly locally based officers who care about our local community and I thank them for Sadly my neighbourhood policing team will soon find themselves without a permanent dedicated home, of course because of the Labour West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner who has decided to sell off the family silver right across the West Midlands and as well as selling off the police station in order my Apache is also selling our next nearest police station he has orally sacrificed the next nearest one in King standing and is going to become a dominant -- Domino's Pizza.

The a dominant -- Domino's Pizza. The government wants more police officers but in the West Midlands their own Police and Crime Commissioner doesn't want to house them full stop it's unacceptable that police stations across West Midlands slowly being phased out diminishing the role of neighbourhood policing and all this at a time when more power is sucked towards central Birmingham and the PCC HQ at Lloyd house. Which benefited, I'm not going to because of time, from a staggering £33 million of upgraded decoration as a result of local communities losing their local police stations in phase 1 of the closure program, including the former Brownhills police station.

Surely this isn't right. At the same time I would also draw the Minister's attention to several written parliamentary questions which I have asked, which I don't believe I have received a full answer to. In particular, I draw attention to my question concerning the funding of the proposed 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers, new neighbourhood police officers, whilst as stated these are welcome, today the government has not fully said how they will be funded after the first year, so I would be the first year, so I would be grateful for some clarity on that.

It's imperative that there is certainty, that these are fully funded new offices which will be added to base budgets for future years, and not a one-off government expenditure after which he picks up the tab? The local taxpayer of course. This would come through a an increase in the police act there are also similar questions to ask of the government with regards to their decision fund national insurance increases, once again the government have been circumspect in their response to my questions in Westminster Hall and three written parliamentary questions.

It's very important that the Minister comes clean today and clarifies that the clean today and clarifies that the clean today and clarifies that the The job tax is not just a one-off grant but is being added to their base budgets. Because as the Minister is very aware, if this is not the case it will be yet another self tax by the back door -- stealth tax, punishing our constituents. Before I conclude and there is so much I would like to talk about in this bill, I want to touch briefly on knife crime.

Because this is an area I do welcome the government commitment on to halving knife crime and it comes on the back of a series of measures passed by the last Conservative government. Sadly in 2017 my constituent James lost his knife -- life to knife crime. Since then his parents have dedicated their lives to help eradicate the scourge of knife crime and they've established the James Brindley Foundation to help educate young people across the borough to turn their backs on carrying a knife.

I was really proud back in August 2022 to be present at the unveiling of one of a number of nice bins across the borough funded through the foundation with help from local businesses and sponsors. They have a simple ask and I will be a bit cheeky and press the Minister on it today which is, can she work with her colleagues in the Department for Education to see whether knife crime prevention could be considered for inclusion on the National Curriculum? My constituents demand safety and that is why the last Conservative government fully funded 20,000 new police officers.

We welcome 13,000 new police officers but they want them to be fully funded, they want them to be housed in the neighbourhood, this bill fails to give guarantees I'm looking for. On that basis I hope the

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Minister can provide me with some clarity when she sums up at the end of the debate. Thank you. Before I called the next speaker

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Before I called the next speaker can I point out to members that we have got a very oversubscribed debate so it's unlikely that debate so it's unlikely that everybody will get into speak. I am
18:29
David Taylor Portrait David Taylor MP (Hemel Hempstead, Labour)
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everybody will get into speak. I am bringing in a four-minute time-limit with immediate effect to try and get more people enforced I call David

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Taylor. There is much within the bill that will bring significant positive changes to communities like mine in changes to communities like mine in Hemel Hempstead where crime and particularly antisocial behaviour particularly antisocial behaviour continues to be a major issue. Under consecutive Conservative governments criminals got an easy ride, they left a great mass and this bill left a great mass and this bill I could speak at great length to I could speak at great length to many sections of the bill, but I want to speak to the section at the top of my postbag in Hemel Hempstead, antisocial and the epidemic of shoplifting we currently face.

I really met a couple called Gary and Margaret, not their real names, whose cases shocked me. For years, Gary and Margaret have been harassed, verbal abuse, and damaging of the property, by an offender who lives on the street. The family feels unsafe and isolated with the harassment worsening the mental health of their eight-year-old son who suffers severe anxiety and is too scared to play outside. They informed me that they have been in constant communication with both the council and the police were faced rejection -- But faced rejection, and said they were not individual to the low stakes nature.

We also face an epidemic of violence against retail staff which other memos have spoken to. I recently met with local employees from the Co-op and I met with the post office, in the same square. I was grateful to the Co-op for the time they took me to show their store, including their CCTV room, but when I got there, I was shocked by what I saw. An entire table of CD after CD, each containing evidence of shoplifting in their store, with many people brazenly walking out of the shop, not even attempting to conceal their theft.

And what is more disturbing is what one of the store employees told me. They had been caught, they managed to get the criminal justice system to take this to court, that brave employee had been to court to testify against the shoplifter and unfortunately, the case was thrown out of the perpetrator let off and able to walk free. Even more shockingly, she had to sit on the same bus home as the person she had just given evidence against. Thankfully, provisions of this bill will make a difference to Gary, her, and others who have been victims of crime and antisocial.

Firstly, part one, clause 1, give the police and local authorities what they need, the respect orders. I have in the past asked for Hemel Hempstead to be considered for a respect order, and I hope the Minister will forgive me in making another pitch for that today. It disgusts me the hard- working people in Hemel Hempstead pay for their shopping, whilst others are simply able to storm out without paying, and it disgusts me that people in my constituency have to put up with antisocial, an almost daily basis.

And yet perpetrators walk away with impunity. I have been out with the police for rider laws, the purpose of which is to see first-hand the challenges the police are facing, I have had meetings with police Federation reps, so I'm well aware of the extra equipment and support they need. I will continue to do everything I can to support those grave -- Brave police officers, tackling antisocial. I'm in support of this bill and believe it will give the police extra power to do this job.

There is more like to say, but much like our police force, under George Osborne and Teresa May, I've had to subject my speech to brutal cuts. So I will finish.

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There is much in the bill we debated today, with which my party debated today, with which my party agrees, in fact many provisions have been brought party in government, so it is strange to hear the remarks from the Home Secretary earlier in the debate. After decades in which crime was falling, the happy trend has sadly become -- Go into reverse. Increased by 12% in the last show, but didn't admit it was still far lower than when Labour was last in lower than when Labour was last in office, but there is still obviously much to be done.

The guidelines
18:34
Nick Timothy Portrait Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)
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published last week explicitly said a presentence report would normally be considered necessary a be considered necessary a perpetrator of a crime is from an ethnic minority, cultural minority, fake minority or form IfATE group fake minority or form IfATE group minority community, transgender, or a victim of Modern Slavery Act traffic and exploitation. These traffic and exploitation. These guidelines are clear, the provisions guidelines are clear, the provisions invitation for lawyers to help illegal immigrants escape the breach illegal immigrants escape the breach of law.

This is not about identity politics before the sacred equality before the law. Much like the judicial College said in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently. Putting this principle into practice, the family impact of custodial sentences is particularly acute for black mothers because black families are more because black families are more Have... The police race action plan published by the College of policing promised to stop the over policing of black communities and complained that such communities are over policed that under protected.

They noted that black people are more likely than white people to be murdered and victims of knife crime, but black people are more likely to

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commit these crimes too. Can I take this opportunity to remind the honourable gentleman that remind the honourable gentleman that we are talking about the second reading of the Crime and Policing Bill, the contents of therein.

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Bill, the contents of therein. Indeed. And I find it baffling we are debating the future of the Criminal Justice Act system and not talking about the oration of the talking about the oration of the principal of equality before the law. Disparities in policing and criminal just to still exist.

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I will remind the honourable gentleman again that in order to speak in this debate, you do need to speak in this debate, you do need to stay in scope of the content of the bill in front of us.

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. I was going to turn to some specific measures in relation to Police Reform Act the bill. According to the government's assessment, the the government's assessment, the bill will provide additional prison bill will provide additional prison places, yet the bill expects to see additional crimes reported by the police annually, and 300 convictions a year, those numbers do not add up unless the government intends to stop as policy for releasing prisoners early.

I want to mix some suggestions to the government. One, we should abolish the National Police Chiefs' Council which were present centralised unaccountable power, and transfers functions to small accountable entities. It should be directed to the Home Secretary to ensure forces focus more clearly on crimefighting. We need to reduce the size of the Met in London with its national responsibility transfer to the crime agency. The government needs to give police chiefs the ability to clear out failing officers and recruit talent from all walks of life, in the Met, there should be fewer deputy commissioners and fewer commanders.

Training needs to be professionalised and better recorded, and workforce planning improved. They should be better use of productivity, improving technology, stream and processes, from arresting and prosecuting, to inform the police want to ensure the forces focus on strategic threats. New technologies mean fraud, identity theft and cyber crimes will present a huge challenge. We can no longer expect police forces, hoping they can offer the perfect blend of leadership, strength, an investigator with skill, we need, instead, to greater specialisation. As I said, it seems crazy we are debating this bill without debating whether we remain equal towards the law.

There is much to be welcomed in

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the bill but I do hope we will see far greater energy than the undeniably tough job of police reform. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. The unfortunate situation is that The unfortunate situation is that crime is currently out of control. Robbery has skyrocketed in my constituency by 75% in the past year. Far worse than the already year. Far worse than the already shocking 17% increase we have seen across Lancashire. Shoplifting has across Lancashire. Shoplifting has soared by 70%. Again, significantly worse than a 23% rise across the county.

These numbers are not just county. These numbers are not just statistics. They represent victims. Business owners whose livelihoods are threatened. Families who feel unsafe and communities torn apart by lawlessness. Indeed it just last week, there were around 10 break-ins to local businesses in Accrington. Almost half of my constituents, at its 44%, will experience violent crime. That is unacceptable. I'm speaking here today because I refuse to accept it any longer. Just over this weekend, sadly, an awful video has been circulating on social media, of yet another terrible incident of violent crime.

This governments Crime and Policing Bill is the biggest crackdown on crime in
18:39
Sarah Smith Portrait Sarah Smith MP (Hyndburn, Labour)
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decades. We are taking back our town centres from thugs and thieves, and restoring respect for Law & Order, restoring respect for Law & Order, giving a -- Giving our communities and policing the tools they need to fight back. For too long, the crimes that have made Accrington's town that have made Accrington's town centre almost lawless, the so-called lower offences have been ignored. In shoplifting, antisocial Street can go unpunished, our high streets suffer, our economy declines suffer, our economy declines community starts to lose hope.

Accrington was once a thriving coach but has been neglected for too long. And this is key for turning this around. This bill has clear action. The police will no longer need a warrant to search premises when stolen goods are electronically tracked. There will be no more safe havens for criminals, the respect orders will clamp down on drugtaking, ensuring our street and longer places of this order. The officers will have the power to seize nuisance vehicles, just like the off-road bikes I saw just on Friday tearing up our parks, they will be taken now on the spot.

And crucially, the days of treating thefts under £200 and effective immunity are over. Stealing is stealing and criminals will be held to account. It is also welcome that the government listened to the campaign by shopworkers to introduce a new offence of assaulting a shop worker in this vital bill. The Labour government are not just tough on crime, but they are investing in solutions. I welcome the 13,000 new police officers, to ensure that every community has their named officer, in spite of the government's £200 million investment.

This will deliver a 6.6 % uplift in Lancashire. Deputy speaker, enough is enough, the people of Hibernian has linked to deserve a safe streets, a thriving town centre and a right to live

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without fear. This bill delivers that, and I am proud to support it. Thank you. Thank you very much, Madame

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Thank you very much, Madame Deputy Speaker. Crime and policing in London is at a crisis point. Figures show the government funding for the Met police has reduced by
18:41
Luke Taylor Portrait Luke Taylor MP (Sutton and Cheam, Liberal Democrat)
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for the Met police has reduced by more than £1 billion in real terms since 2010. These cuts have meant we do not just need more bobbies back, we need more beats. Parks police are no longer patrolling, now we see the prospect of safer school officers across London being moved out of schools where they will be working with young people at risk of gangs or county lines, tobacco neighbourhood policing is teams. It is in tatters, numbers are insufficient, and the numbers are fallen by more than 3,000 in the last 15 years.

From 4247 in 2008, to just 1215 in 2023. That means almost 3 out of every four officers have been lost in that time. While we Liberal Democrats broadly welcomed many aspects of this bill, we are fundamentally concerned that without sufficient officers on the ground, community policing will continue to suffer. Over the years, successive Labour and Conservative governments have introduced their own versions of the Crime and Policing Bill. Despite this, London still recorded a 15,000 knife crime incidents, nearly half a million thefts, and more than 24,000 cases of sexual violence just last year.

It is simply common sense that if we want to get a grip on these oval incidents which undermine the very fabric of a trusting society, we have to restore community policing. For Londoners, this means sorting out recruitment in the Met, across the whole of London, ending the practice of obstructing police officers from outer boroughs to assist in ones, and instead, focus on recruiting more officers to be visible, engaged, and dedicated to protecting the communities they serve. I cannot see the many welcome parts of this bill being effectively implemented in my constituency, and across London, if that is not the case.

This bill, as it has been presented, should go further and faster and restoring proper community policing. Revoking Knife crime, both of which I've spoken about in this House for there is one particular aspect I would like to raise today to finish on. I'm encouraged to see that assaults against retail workers are to be treated as the grave crimes they are, but these provisions should go further, to protect tradespeople from harm, wherever they work. Tall theft is a devastating crime that caused tradespeople millions last year.

Research shows one in three tradespeople now live in constant fear of violent thieves. Some have been brutally attacked with crowbars and other weapons, just for trying to protect their tools from being ripped right out of their vans. At a rally, to stop tool theft, organised by trades united in Parliament Square last month, I spoke to many tradespeople who suffered thefts and attacked and heard how they would not now leave their vehicles out of I should, for fear of becoming victims.

-- Out of I shot. We aim to reduce thefts with better security, but however the disruptions are having the tops of vans literally cut off from stealing the tools inside me is that these measures can inside me is that these measures can only go so far to stop these thefts. These attacks on tradespeople is more than just theft. It is an assault on their hard earned work and livelihoods. It is time to acknowledge the escalated danger tradespeople face and to provide stronger legal safeguards to protect their livelihoods and well-being and I hope the government will take note of that at committee stage of this

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bill. Thank you. This Labour government has made

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This Labour government has made the unprecedented commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. I know my colleagues on the frontbench take colleagues on the frontbench take this extremely seriously and I agree
18:45
Tonia Antoniazzi Portrait Tonia Antoniazzi MP (Gower, Labour)
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this extremely seriously and I agree This marks the beginning of the government work to make good on their ambition by giving victims the protection they deserve. In that spirit, I believe this Bill presents an opportunity for this House to tackle commercial sexual exploitation, a key form of violence against women and girls, and give victims of the sex trade the measures and protections that they need. The majority of people exploited through the sex trade are women and girls.

Whilst the overwhelming majority of people who pay to sexually exploit them are men. Evidence shows that most women exploited through this trade were highly runnable before their involvement and suffer acute harms as a result, including disproportionate risk of violence. I am aware the policing Minister, my right honourable friend, in a former Parliament, has done some excellent work in this area. The demand for sexual exploitation is not been deterred, victims face a threat of criminal sanctions.

This Bill provides an opportunity to change that, to end the impunity for punters who pay to abuse women, take action against pimping website and remove the threat of criminal sanctions from victims. This Bill does so much for victims of crime and abuse and evidence of the government treating violence against women and girls as the emergency that it is. It is my view that by strength the response to commercial sexual exploitation, we can make significant headway in halving violence against. Speaking of highly vulnerable women, I would like to mention abortion.

The law underpinning abortion dates back to 1861, before women even had the right to vote. Under this cruel what law, over 100 women have been investigated by the police in the last five years alone. The women pulled up in this law are highly vulnerable and often desperate, they are susceptible the same laws that apply to violent partners who use physical abuse to end a pregnancy. The law should be a tool to protect these women, not punish them. Whilst Westminster voted to repeal the laws in Northern Ireland in 2019, they remain in place in England and.

There should be parity across the UK, so that my constituents have the same right as my colleague Constituents in Northern Ireland. Abortion remains a free vote issue and I recognise that any changes to the law in this area must be led by the Back Benches, my right honourable friend, the policing Minister, was committed to this change before the election. With colleagues across the House supporting the amendment to remove women from the criminal law, I hope this Bill will provide us with the same opportunity to revisit this issue.



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Thank you, I welcome many of the measures in this Bill, including on measures in this Bill, including on knife and protecting shopworkers who
18:49
Gideon Amos Portrait Gideon Amos MP (Taunton and Wellington, Liberal Democrat)
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knife and protecting shopworkers who bear the brunt of antisocial behaviour. One of the biggest deterrents of crime is the certainty of being caught. Reductions in police numbers nationally are as wrong as they are locally. Locally, in Somerset, the outgoing Police and Crime Commissioner cut PCSOs by a further 80 last year, as well as closing the police station in Taunton. 28% reduction. I welcome many of the measures, in clause 4, the provisions about public space protection orders, I welcome the commitment to 13,000 extra officers of various kinds, but worrying for me is the fact that constituents have come to see me whose relatives are serving police officers where officers...

Civilians have been replaced by officers in uniform at desks, doing the same civilian jobs, so it can be claimed that police numbers have been increased. I hope the Minister will ensure that is not continue. Unless the officers are on the streets, they are not going to reassure or deter or catch the criminals that we need to. Last autumn, I was contacted by businesses at Castle Green who are at their wits end from the antisocial in the historic centre of our county town.

I contacted the Chief Constable, I am really grateful to the Avon and Somerset officers for the efforts of that they have put in. I attended the Safer Streets Fund last week. It is clear that we need to deter antisocial behaviour and crime where it is taking place, that is proven by Taunton town council, they just appointed a Street Marshal on duty, I spent the afternoon with Nick last Friday come doing excellent work, covering a huge range, people coming from rooftops to actually retrieving a huge volume, thousands of pounds worth of stock, returned to the shop, simply by asking the person responsible to hand it over.

He must have been quite persuasive in asking that. Really massive congratulations to the Street Marshal. When I returned to Castle Green with him, it is clear the problems have become really uncharitable, I suggest that working with Somerset Council we need public space protection orders, I hope that will have government support for the enforcement. Too many of our community events are affected by the antisocial few. We need to tackle that. Our famous castle hotel, the ancient monument, the castle itself come and the museum, to you will be of the sea the hoard of silver coins from the Norman conquest.

I cannot use those coins to pay for the enforcement of the protection order, but I hope, therefore, we will have government support so we can ensure that the key public spaces are not subject conquest by those who would disobey the law and wreak havoc amongst local people. Damage livelihoods and tarnish the superb reputation of our county town.

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I promised my constituents more police officers in Stockton, police officers in Stockton, Billingham and Norton and we are delivering on that. I promised a crackdown on antisocial behaviour, we are delivering on that. I
18:53
Chris McDonald Portrait Chris McDonald MP (Stockton North, Labour)
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we are delivering on that. I promised a named police officer in every neighbourhood, we are delivering on that. This is a serious comment, rolling up its sleeves and delivering on issues that matter most. I visited Cornershop, picking up the pieces after being attacked by balaclava clad thugs, I spoke with retail workers about the devastating impact of shoplifting, theft and assault. Our high streets should be thriving but they are overshadowed by antisocial behaviour that keeps families away. Crime mocks confidence in our communities, leaving people feeling unsafe and making it harder for business to thrive.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in the illegal use of off-road bikes. For too long, these bikes have been a menace, marauding through estates, intimidating residents and used by criminals. People have had enough. I promise to come down hard on crime, in increased police numbers and make the community safe, that is what we are doing. With £2.4 million invested in neighbourhood policing, Cleveland Police is delivering on that promise with 14 new officers on the streets, increasing the visible police presence.

And using new tactics to stop crime in its tracks, using police joined. If criminals think they can evade justice, they are wrong.

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I thank my honourable friend for giving way, he is giving an excellent speech about the challenges we face in Teesside, today I heard from James who said that in two hours there was not 15 that in two hours there was not 15 minutes where I illegal off-road minutes where I illegal off-road bike did not pass. Does he agree, we need to seize these bikes, crush them, and make the streets safe again.

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again. I am sure that James will be pleased to learn that police have pleased to learn that police have already seized 359 of these vehicles linked to crime. Since January alone. It is already making a big difference, crime across Cleveland is at the lowest level in five years, more than a nine% reduction. This is what a proactive Police and Crime Commissioner and a Labour government working together looks government working together looks like. Putting police back in the heart of the community, ensuring we have the powers and the backing of a justice system that actually works.

Introducing respect orders to tackle the worst antisocial behaviour offenders and stamping out issues such as public drinking and drug use, that ensure our town centres are free from harm and nuisance. New offences such as child, not will crackdown on drug dealing. We will end immunity for anyone caught shoplifting goods under £200. Stockton, Billingham and Norton deserve safest -- safer streets and we are delivering. We are on the side of law and order. There is still much more to be done to reclaim our streets and town centres, the job is not done yet but we are making real progress.

Together we will take back our streets and ensure the towns are a place of pride.

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Today's legislation contained
18:56
Monica Harding Portrait Monica Harding MP (Esher and Walton, Liberal Democrat)
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provisions are welcome to address the behaviours which plague my constituents and which were allowed to flourish under the previous Conservative government. My constituents will welcome a renewed focus on combating shoplifting and antisocial. But, the Conservatives decimated our communities, officers in Surrey fell by 29% between 2015 and 2022 and they eroded the close relationship between police and the communities. The provisions in this Bill are intended to make spaces safer and must be backed by genuine and sustained commitment to community policing and by giving officers the time and resources to build trust and understanding with those they exist to protect.

In the last 12 months, arrests made by Surrey police have doubled. This is not merely a case of officers solving high percentage of crimes, in fact, the number of thefts detected by police more than doubled. They impose costs on retailers, and they undercut the faith that residents have in law- enforcement and the ability of politics to get things done. I hope the government will pursue this with urgency, the same is true when antisocial behaviour is not dealt with.

I received far too many emails and letters from constituents struggling with antisocial neighbours, the actions of if you can impose severe strains on so many. One constituents said there is an issue of fairness, ordinary people have work to do and have been left exhausted by noise, disruptions and threatening behaviour is coming from a small group. This bill highlights housing providers as relevant agencies, with a role to play in tackling antisocial behaviour. When people feel threatened, there is no substitute for recognisable neighbourhood policing with links to the community.

Can the Minister assure the House, considering the criminal sanctions attached to breaches of the respect order, community police will receive funding in line with the vital role that they have to play in ensuring in your orders do not become meaningless. May I also address the support and protection of police officers. The police deserve attention from abuse, the public order act 1986 was enhanced in 1988 to allow initially and religiously motivated abuse language to be treated as aggravated factor.

A loophole currently exists in the decision, such that if this particular form of abuse occurs when both parties are in the private dwellings, it is not treated as an aggravated factor. This is wrong. It leaves the mistaken impression there are some circumstances in which racial abuse is acceptable and fails to deter this behaviour. Will the Minister commit to re-examining this and exploring the possibility of finally removing this anomaly? Thank

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I have said before across the

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I have said before across the House, used to be a police officer, worked for three forces across worked for three forces across England and Wales. This has given me an understanding faced by both officers and the public in tackling officers and the public in tackling crime. It is partly due to this experience that I fully support the bill, and the government's commitment to making our communities commitment to making our communities safer. In my constituency in the Forest of Dean, crime and antisocial have a direct impact on families, have a direct impact on families, businesses, and communities.

It is crucial our police forces have the right powers, support and resources to tackle these issues effectively. The bill empowers our officers, giving them the tools and confidence they need to make swift decisions and restore public trust. Something I wish I had more of when I was serving. The bill also addresses persistent antisocial, with the introduction of the respect order which will help restore order, and send a strong message to offenders. It strengthens measures against theft, allowing police to enter properties without a warrant to search for stolen goods that have trackers on them.

Another key aspect of the bill as its focus on domestic abuse. In Gloucestershire as a whole, one third of all arrests made in January were related to domestic abuse. I think we will all agree that this is unacceptable. The bill introduces crucial provisions to support victims and improve the management of such offenders, which is vital for both victims and enforcement on all sides. Another important factor to me is that the bill focuses on tackling child sexual abuse. Introducing the mandatory duty to report, ensuring no case is overlooked.

Having worked in the police but also in schools, I also know first hand how important it is to act quickly when it comes
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19:02
Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)
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honourable members for their contributions. On the whole, the bill tonight is to be welcomed. There are a number of clauses in place in Northern Ireland, such as the offensive weapons penalty for the other issues that have removed or are in the process of being moved by the Northern Ireland Executive. In my intervention on the Home Secretary, I welcome this, because there are 51 clauses for Northern Ireland. Coming out of this here, I consent to most, but it is good news, because this is the sort of stuff we won't have a Northern Ireland as well as, and the Home Secretary very kindly said, the things that are outstanding, she will, through the Minister and assembly, take that further, so that's good news.

There are other measures I agree with and some I do not believe in far enough, but I should do, must do, when we look at this section on policing and investigation, I think the heartbreaking interview carried out, and the refusal to carry out a public inquiry, by ices supporter, David Amis was my honourable friend and we are poor for his passing. Without due respect, I believe it is the wrong decision. I hope this bill, and perhaps clauses, regarding the investigation import 13, may lead to further powers being available for the families to seek an investigation into why the police ceased their investigations.

David Amis' family is deserving of this, this house deserves that inquiry. I will leave it at that. I welcome the shop lifting legislation. I very much welcome the knife crime, which has been a scourge right across this great nation. And we need to have the legislation as being set in place in this House, by the government in place. The timing of the child sexual legislation, which I wish was not necessary but certainly is, between 2022-23, recorded crimes relating to child pornography were up by 40.6%, those shocking figures.

As a father and grandfather, the statistics upset me, as a parliamentarian, the statistics galvanised me to ensure we shut down at this horrific industry. And jail all of those involved, between sharing videos or producing them. None of them are victimless crimes and we must take strides to address this and subsequently, I welcome these clauses. No bill can never be perfect. And there are amendments to debate, but what is clear is currently our system allows too many criminals to slip through the holes, and police need greater power of investigation and drug testing as well.

However, the security must be balanced, and does not impinge on the rights of existing British citizens. The right to protest is a vital mechanism for freedom of speech, but it must be a safe protest. As one who has protested for nearly all my life, lived in a nation in the country where protests became the name of the game. Always peaceful protests I have to say, I will outline that very quickly. But a balance must be struck, I hope the medicine outline, our freedoms in this bill, the religious belief to express in a balanced way, to not be persecuted or discriminated for that persecuted or discriminated for that reason.

Something that occurred to me is also needing protection for service personnel, and to provide support for fixation allegations, which we are seeing in Northern Ireland at this time. We cannot recruit personnel into the piece or Armed Forces when they know they will be abandoned and hung out to dry at the first hint of an allegation. This must be strengthened in the bill, as one of the things I look forward to trying to do something with. There is much in the bill tonight that we should welcome.

And the Secretary of State, Home Secretary, and government, is definitely on the right road. In Northern Ireland, we can also see the difference, in this bill enforced tonight, that is really good news for everyone in this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Thanks so much.

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I enormously welcome this bill, there is so much in here that will there is so much in here that will make a real positive difference for my constituency in North West Cambridgeshire. Due to time constraints, I will skip through a lot of the praise I have the bill and moved straight to an area where I would perhaps like to have an conversation and dialogue with the conversation and dialogue with the Minister about what we can do, that is the area of management reporting.

I enormously welcome this bill will finally introduce a statutory finally introduce a statutory provision, to report sexual exportation. It has been a long road, the previous Conservative government said the case for reporting are not currently been made. And it was a policy they were not introduced. The independent inquiry in the child sexual abuse, chaired by Alexis, showed how mischievous that position was. I will give way. will give way.
19:07
Sam Carling Portrait Sam Carling MP (North West Cambridgeshire, Labour)
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Thank my noble friend for giving wired also supporting my debate last week on Professor Jay's representation presentation for the preagreed with me that it is critical, alongside those, lead to a Middlesbrough commendations as well?

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Absolutely agree with him and thank him for that intervention. This has to be something we move towards a society to really make towards a society to really make sure children are protected. When it comes to the detail of this legislation, I'm not fully sure it delivers as committee drafted on the delivers as committee drafted on the government's pledge to deliver these recommendations. It is mainly recommendations. It is mainly because it doesn't create criminal sanctions on my reading for non- compliance, which was a key part of the 13 fixed recommendation.

The the 13 fixed recommendation. The consequence spelt out in the bill for failure to report that someone could be referred to as their professional reckoning here, where relevant, or the dislodge and barring service, to go to build explanatory notes, will come consider their ability to continue working in regulated activity with children. That is all really positive, but I just think we have to go a little bit further. As currently drafted, is this enough to tackle the chronic underreporting of sexual abuse identified by the J inquiry.

The new offence of stopping someone else from reporting, is very welcome, and should stop, for example, managers pressuring people working under them, but I don't think it will cover cases in religious groups. By way of example, I would like to speak about a religious organisation which I was raised in. The Jehovah's Witnesses. Most people know very little about them, they are very insular religious community with a deep distrust in many cases, of secular authorities will stop much of that comes from the fundamental nature of some of their beliefs.

Witnesses have a mindset where the first port of call with any issues with other memos of the case is the body of religious elders, who are men, always men, appointed from within their ranks. The organisation denies that it stops these elders from a ring allegations of sexual abuse to police, but numbers speak louder than words. Over 10 years ago, the Jehovah's Witnesses were one of the case studies examined by an Australian Royal commission into institution responses to child sexual abuse was that the commission found that in Australia alone, allegations having documented by religious elders against 1006 individuals, and not a single one was reported to police.

In the UK, elders will sometimes say to victims they have a right to go to police, which is often the organisation's response to criticisms in this area, but behind-the-scenes, though heavily discouraged, telling victims this will bring reproach on God's name. I think this secretive attitude is best exemplified by a speech given by the member of the governing body recently, and he said, and I quote, " Suppose someone is convicted and put in jail or found guilty by men as Jesus was, it doesn't mean he is guilty and the sight of God." Now, I should flag that wasn't specifically referring to child sexual abuse but that attitude is completely pervasive, and I describe this example highlights just how critical it is that the duty to report is backed up by criminal consequences for ignoring it.

Because some of these organisations will do anything to avoid compliance. I would like to ask the Minister first of all if she would be willing to meet with me to discuss this issue in more depth and how we can address it. I would also appreciate if the Minister could comment on the scope of individuals the bill place is under a duty to report. I'm not convinced at the moment that many religious leaders who often hold very significant power and influence, as I've outlined in a white sample already, are included.

This goes back to report that recommends the duty to report a fall in anyone who works in related activities, but also come onto anyone in a position of trust over a child, as defined by the sexual offences act 2003. On my reading, this bill does the former but not the latter, as currently drafted, and I think addressing this by using both criteria could significantly strengthen the legislation. May I finish by, again, welcoming this bill. It contains very powerful provisions to address measures, that these benches to learn, to make our streets safer and tackle crime, to look forward to voting for it this evening.



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I rise today to support this bill, which will provide the necessary tools to restore public necessary tools to restore public confidence in law and order, as a former warranty police officer, Council portfolio for enforcement and Chair of Midway community safety and Chair of Midway community safety partnership, having working within my community, with our community, to try and challenge the many issues which this bill will, today, which this bill will, today, counter. And can I thank Kent police counter.

And can I thank Kent police and council staff for all the work they do, every single weekend, every single day, every hour, helping and supporting our residents. This bill, however, doesn't come without context. And over a decade, the previous government chipped away with our system, they cut police funding, we all remember the police Federation Cuts Have Consequences campaign. They$$JOIN /numbers before then recruiting them to lower levels per capita. They slashed PCSO numbers, they weakened council enforcement teams. Court delays, skyrocketed, probation was privatised, publicised, then privatised, legal aid was gutted, prisons were left full.

These reckless acts have fuelled antisocial and shattered public confidence in a law enforcement.

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Absolutely, happy to give away. I thank my honourable friend for giving way. Given what he is saying, giving way. Given what he is saying, would he share my shock that Cumbria police didn't hand out a single police didn't hand out a single penalty notice for disorder in 2023? That is down from 1,000 being issued That is down from 1,000 being issued in 2010. Does he share my enthusiasm for the measures in this bill to bring forward respect orders?

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bring forward respect orders? I could not concur more, the police funding and police officer numbers have resulted in fewer fines being issued, for many types of crime. And in fact, the new provisions in this bill will actually give police more powers, to challenge around specific nuisances spiking and other finds. This bill is absolutely necessary and absolutely... Happy to give way to my honourable member.

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At the honourable member for

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At the honourable member for giving way. One Saturday, I visited quite a few retailers in Wokingham. There was no police presence in the town at all. Despite crime occurring hourly, in all of our shops. There is always somebody who is doing is always somebody who is doing shoplifting. The police only have 198 police officers per 100,000, well below the national average of well below the national average of 245, would you agree that is not

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enough? Can I thank the honourable member. I would agree that insufficient police numbers in recent years have resulted in cases, recent years have resulted in cases, as you have just raised. Where we have had a shoplifters charter under the last government, where there was a set amount allowed. I also want to a set amount allowed. I also want to thank my honourable friend, for her thank my honourable friend, for her thank my honourable friend, for her debate last week.

And the honourable member, my honourable friend for North Durham as well, for his bill which looks specifically at the next issue I wish to raise around the nuisance biking, boy racers who tear through our streets and journal hollow parks have significantly hollow parks have significantly worsened in previous years. And under the previous government, the weaker section 59s allowed these bikers to effectively get away with it, with a slap on the wrist. So, I welcome the measures in at this bill, which will immediately seize these vehicles, and will send a message that if you are caught with this vehicle, you will lose that asset immediately.

These are powers my police have recently called for, when I went to a Kent police operation in November and witnessed the cat and mouse tactics of perpetrators, and the resources simply needed to impose these
19:15
Tristan Osborne Portrait Tristan Osborne MP (Chatham and Aylesford, Labour)
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extremely weak penalties. Secondly, knife crime has surged since 2010, disproportionately affecting younger disproportionately affecting younger people, this bill gives police new stop and search powers in high crime areas, and this will allow law enforcement to be much more proactive, intercepting potential threats, and I welcome this measure threats, and I welcome this measure specifically in areas of high knife crime, in my urban centres in crime, in my urban centres in Chatham and Aylesford. Thirdly, the digital age has produced new avenues for crime, as has been mentioned by many colleagues here around child many colleagues here around child exploitation, the exploitation and violence against women.

This bill will give more powers to challenge stalkers and more powers to strengthen against child sexual exploitation. As a former teacher, I had to look at safeguarding cases on a weekly basis, which involved online activity, and I can say that without these additional powers, it becomes increasingly difficult to catch those malign influences, which It will improve issues around deescalation techniques and equipped officers with the necessary skills to handle a wide range of situations with professionalism.

We know that they do this every day, we know that the diversity of issues that they are challenged with everyday requires new training as well. Lastly, supporting tackling domestic violence, eloquently raised by my colleague this afternoon, we know that domestic violence is so often hidden crime with victims feeling trapped and powerless. This Bill strengthens the legal framework to protect these victims by providing new provisions for protective orders including the ability to ban perpetrators from returning to a victim's home, even before the trial.

Better support for victims, offering increased access to legal services. In conclusion, this Bill is about lives, Safer Streets Fund protecting communities and justice that truly serves the people. This Crime and Policing Bill represents a forwardthinking, balanced approach to Law & Order and Public Safety and provides the police with the powers that they need to combat crime, support our justice system, promote greater community engagement and ensure that, most importantly, the victims of crime receive the care and protection that they deserve.

Thank you.

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I am pleased to add my support to

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I am pleased to add my support to Crime and Policing Bill. My urban and rural communities. Given the and rural communities. Given the time constraints, I want to focus my remarks on part three of the bill, remarks on part three of the bill, relating to protection of retail relating to protection of retail workers. Now, I do have a particular interest in the 3.5 million retail workers, not least because my mother
19:18
Callum Anderson Portrait Callum Anderson MP (Buckingham and Bletchley, Labour)
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workers, not least because my mother is one of them, having worked or the shop floor in Morrisons for over 20 years. During that time, she has seen it all, the good, the bad and the ugly. During my own conversations with her, certainly over the past decade, two themes have become more prevalent. They have been raised already by honourable members across the House. First, the increasingly casual and habitual nature of shoplifting and other crime. The British Retail Consortium data suggest this has a ready costed businesses across the country over £2 billion per year, in the Thames Valley police area, retail crime rose by over one third between...

In the period of April 2023 and February 2024. Just this year, alone, the co-operative store in Winslet has faced two violent raids to remove the cash machine. This is not just petty crime, it is often organised. It is this kind of emboldened criminality that must be stopped. Such activity is not a blot on a company's balance sheet, it punishes good-faith customers and the myelitis of the workers who take pride in the work that they do. I welcome the repeal of section 176 of welcome the repeal of section 176 of the antisocial behaviour act 2014 which calls time on Britain's open invitation to criminals to steal goods worth under one -- under £200.

I want to touch on the growing occurrence of abuse faced by shopworkers in their own workplace, findings from the store trade union in 2024 find that over two thirds of retail workers were verbally abused, almost half were threatened and one in five physically assaulted whilst doing the job. This is intolerable, nobody in this country should be going to work fearing for their own safety. I believe that we, in this House, with our security and armed police, have a duty to ensure that those who work in our shops feel as safe as we do.

That is why the Bill's Introduction... I won't, there is so little time. That is why this Bill's Introduction of a new offence is so important and I also welcome the orders in this Bill which will give courts the power to ban repeat offenders from retail misses. This is a Bill that does ultimately deliver for retail workers and ensures we are giving them the respect and dignity they deserve and that is why I will be supporting it tonight.

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Thank you, I would like to begin by declaring interest in this area, I am married to a police officer, I I am married to a police officer, I am very proud of that. Madam Deputy Speaker, in the year ending Speaker, in the year ending September 24, there was 1,490,000 September 24, there was 1,490,000 shop theft offences and more than 55,000 knife offences. These are not just numbers, these are real people, real businesses, real communities, real businesses, real communities, that were let down by the last government.

In my constituency, Warrington South, Cheshire police continue to go above and beyond, day in, day out, they put themselves on the line to protect us. Despite rising demand and the failure of the previous government to support them. I want to thank them for their dedication, service and unwavering commitment to keeping my
19:22
Sarah Hall Portrait Sarah Hall MP (Warrington South, Labour )
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constituency, and religious safe. Cheshire is a force that has been Cheshire is a force that has been leading the way in tackling some of the key issues we are discussing in this important bill today. In February this year, the force was February this year, the force was praised for its performance praised for its performance following an inspection. Which commended the force on the excellent commended the force on the excellent performance in keeping people safe, reducing crime and giving victims reducing crime and giving victims and effective service.

I am in no doubt that the success is due to the leadership of the Chief Constable of Cheshire police. Madam Speaker, I welcome the new action against perpetrators, the bill contains new measures to strengthen enforcement and better protect victims. Making it easier for courts to introduce stocking orders. And I want to pay tribute to Cheshire police Sergeant for his many years of work in this area, including the creation of Cheshire's anti-stalking unit. This unit sees police and mental health professionals and outreach workers and victim advocates working together to protect victims of stalking and give them an enhanced level of support.

It has long been a leading advocate in this area and I'm delighted to see that with this Bill, the comment is giving stalking the attention it deserves. The theme of this year's stalking awareness week is health responses, spotting stalking. Like other forms of violence against and, stalking is a public health issue and requires a whole system approach through training, guidance and improving referral pathways. The goal is to support the healthcare sector and ensure that no victims. The gaps. I would like to ask the Minister what action is being taken to ensure collaborative working with health colleagues to ensure that whole system approach is delivered.

As a member of a trade union and a Labour MP, I welcome the introduction of a new offence of assaulting a retail worker. This is an area I have long campaigned for and I have spoken to many retail workers in my constituency. During my visit to a local cop store, I heard about the devastating impact assault and abuse has had. For too long, retail staff have been working in fear of the next incident of abuse and this Bill provide a great opportunity to make a real difference to the retail industry.

This Labour government is delivering where the Conservatives failed. This is a Bill that takes crime seriously and will rebuild public confidence, make the streets safer and give the police the power, support and resources that they need.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The 317 pages of this Bill makes satisfying reading for this former satisfying reading for this former Crown prosecutor. Satisfying because I know it is packed full of measures that will make the streets safer for that will make the streets safer for my constituents. Amber Valley is a
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Linsey Farnsworth Portrait Linsey Farnsworth MP (Amber Valley, Labour)
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my constituents. Amber Valley is a brilliant place to live, but sadly, it is not without incidents of antisocial behaviours. This is an important issue to my constituents which is why I will focus what little time I have this evening on part one of the Bill. Madam Deputy Speaker, I have heard the concerns of residents in our towns and villages about cars and off-road bikes driven in an antisocial manner, listen to the frustrations of police officers explaining to me that they can't do anything except issue warnings.

The Labour- controlled borough council has made good use of public safe make public space protection orders available to them. Including dispersing troublemakers. The Crown and policing Bill will now mean that troublemakers can be dispersed for longer and the police will have power to seize and crush the cars and bikes and give residents confidence that the police will, at long last, have the tools they need to crackdown on such antisocial. Antisocial comes in many forms and is often a legacy of Tory austerity.

Youth provision has been cut by the Conservative -controlled Derbyshire County Council. Youth services play a crucial pillar in Amber Valley, linking young people with the wider community and the neighbourhood police. Just like I saw recently, at the railway carriage. This environment helps steer young people away from choosing crime. This Labour government understands that we need to give young people chances, that is why, alongside this Bill, we are working at pace towards our opportunity mission. Finding our opportunity mission.

Finding more friendships and skilled -- apprenticeships and skilled jobs. Antisocial behaviourism of the net the hands of a small number of repeat offenders. Under this Bill, individuals persistently causing antisocial behaviour can be made subject to a respect order, without waiting for them to be convicted. Speeding up the response, not least because it avoids the backlogs in the Crown Court that we have inherited. We must not forget the people who repeatedly act in an antisocial manner often have underlying issues or trauma driving the behaviour.

Whether it is alcohol awareness classes for those who persistently drink and are aggressive in our parks or drug treatment orders for those stealing to fund their habit, these orders will tackle the root causes of such behaviour. 13,000 additional police officers are central to the safer streets mission as are these orders. The orders will only work if the resources are available to support offenders to deal with the issues and change their behaviour and I would urge the government to ensure that such provision is in place.

Antisocial behaviours often described as low-level crime but for the people who have to endure it, it does not feel like low level. Madam Deputy Speaker, the people of Amber Valley can be confident that this government has acted on their concerns and the antisocial behaviour will be stopped. I wholeheartedly support this Bill.

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Thank you, I want to speak today in full support of the Crime and Policing Bill. This is a crucial Policing Bill. This is a crucial piece of legislation that will help to deliver on the government mission. I was incredibly proud to mission. I was incredibly proud to stand on the platform of securing the safety of my constituents, it is the safety of my constituents, it is the first response plenty of any government to keep the community safe, whether national or safe, whether national or Our communities deserve safety, Our communities deserve safety, security and respect.

Antisocial, violent crime and lawlessness undermine the very fabric of our undermine the very fabric of our society. I've seen this very recently, in my own constituency, of Stafford, Culshaw, the villages, where confidence in public services has been eroded, due to instances of antisocial. This bill takes decisive action to restore public confidence in policing and protect the most vulnerable to crime. It strengthens police powers to tackle persistent offenders, reintroducing respect orders to perpetrators accountable,
19:31
Leigh Ingham Portrait Leigh Ingham MP (Stafford, Labour)
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and removing bureaucratic barriers delaying much needed enforcement. Whether it is vandalism of the reckless use of vehicles, our response must be swift and effective. Furthermore, we cannot discuss crime prevention without addressing opportunity to young addressing opportunity to young people. Too many of our youth are going to criminal activity, whether going to criminal activity, whether through exploitation, gang violence, or knife crime. Often, blame is put in the wrong place. We need to tackle the adults that exploit these young people. This bill introduces young people.

This bill introduces tougher measures to combat child criminal exploitation, ensuring those that manipulative abuse young people face the full. The law. -- Full force of the law. At the same time, we must invest in preventative measures. Education, youth services and programs that divert young people away from crime and towards opportunity. In my professional career, I work with children and young people, and I know how amazing they are when they are given a chance. This government will make sure no children are left behind. Madame Deputy Speaker, another key pillar of this bill is community policing.

Our police officers do an extraordinary job under immense pressure, yet public confidence has eroded. This bill equips our police with the tools they need, to greater powers, to tackle Serious Crime Act, retail theft, and violent offenders whilst also ensuring robust accountability measures. By supporting our frontline officers, supporting our frontline officers, supporting our frontline officers, Law and order remain at the heart of our priorities. I was pleased to see the named police officer guarantee, as my constituents in rural villages and settlements often tell me they have struggled to feel connected to the police.

With long waits for their cause and a lack of oversight and regular patrols in their areas. That is why I recently asked the Home Office in oral questions if Home Office in oral questions if rural communities, like my constituency, would receive the named police officer guarantee. And I was delighted the Minister confirmed his guarantee would be given to my rural constituents. This government is committed to delivering the safety for rural communities that we desperately need. This was a bill that protects victims, punishes criminals, and strengthens the foundations of a safer society.

It ensures our high streets, towns and villages, and our homes are protected from those who seek to harm or exploit. I urge my colleagues to support it in delivering justice, security, and respect for all.

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I am speaking today in support of this bill, not just because it is the biggest package of measures on the biggest package of measures on crime and policing in decades, to make our streets safer, but because make our streets safer, but because these new measures will tackle antisocial, shop theft, and street crime head on, giving the police and communities new powers to take that communities new powers to take that town and city centres like Newport town and city centres like Newport Is great to welcome this bill, but also it contains some of my own work.

I show, I moved my first private members bill for this House. It was cold Community and Suspended Sentences and Notification of Details Bill, it sought to amend the 2020 Sentencing Code to create a duty on offenders to notify the responsible officer of any change of name or contact details. If they are sentenced to a community order, suspended sentence order, the youth rehabilitation order, or referral order. Too often at the moment, these offenders have been able to change their names, slip at the radar, to avoid scrutiny and potentially go on to reoffend again.

But chapter 4 of this bill remains my private memos bill has been noted and incorporated into legislation. I am so pleased this government has committed to utilising good ideas from all areas, including his backbenchers. However, Madame Deputy Speaker, I do not normally wish to praise the elements of the bill I contributed towards, but this is a bill that would seek to address some of the very serious issues. I
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Ruth Jones Portrait Ruth Jones MP (Newport West and Islwyn, Labour)
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respect the order to stamp out issues such as drinking and drug issues such as drinking and drug use, this will be welcomed in my constituency, where residents lives are blighted by this kind of antisocial, right outside their antisocial, right outside their homes and along the canal. A natural beauty spot which is also suffering from individuals drinking and taking from individuals drinking and taking drugs during the day in full view of drugs during the day in full view of passers-by. Another issue that affects my constituents is off-road biking, which is dangerous and biking, which is dangerous and causes a great deal of damage to our countryside.

I really welcome the new powers that police will have a result of this bill, to seize vehicles to stop off-road biking and also the dangerous use of e-scooters on pavements. Moving the need for police to issue a warning before seizing bikes at e-scooters as well, and great news for the people living in my constituency. Madame Deputy Speaker, we must also mention the need to protect shopworkers, because we know shop staff are particularly targeted vulnerable group for supper introducing the new offence of assaulting a retail worker, this government is showing it is serious about tackling issues and communities, to take back our shops and streets, by confronting head-on violence and antisocial.

As co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for safeguarding and faith communities, I am also very pleased to see a new duty in England, for adults working in relevant activities to support instances of child sexual abuse, as has already been mentioned. This government is working hard to implement the recommendation for independent inquiry to child sexual abuse, after years of inaction by the previous government. Finally, I am also pleased to see the new offence of nuisance biking,, violence against women and girls is endemic in society, we need to take it seriously and tackle directly, which has not always been the case.

There have been some solid campaigns, but placing the emphasis on the Solve the issue. This new bill makes a difference and I thank the front bench for their diligence and bring this bill forward. I could go on but I am mindful of time and the need to get other speakers, so I will close by walking this spell -- By welcoming this bill and getting it

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through the necessary stages and the books as quickly as possible. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. On Friday, intended an event On Friday, intended an event organised by age UK, mid mercy, in my constituency. Taking questions my constituency. Taking questions from service users and volunteers. It was no surprise to me that crime and policing, specifically and policing, specifically antisocial, is one of the questions antisocial, is one of the questions raised by those presents. Other people told me they were scared to leave their homes, especially after dark, for their sake and all of our dark, for their sake and all of our communities.

We need to take our streets back and this bill is a step towards doing that. Madame Deputy Speaker, many of the welcome measures in this bill are aimed at tackling what, for too long, has been thought of by too many as low- level crime. Antisocial, whether it is public drinking, drug use and vandalism and off-road bikes, touring, in parks, is completely unacceptable, and Brice Abba
19:38
David Baines Portrait David Baines MP (St Helens North, Labour)
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communities and can ruin lives. People have great pride in where they live, but that has been tested they live, but that has been tested too often by the loud minority. too often by the loud minority. People getting attacked in bus stops, causing some bourses to me stops, causing some bourses to me diverted, it is totally acceptable. The introduction of respectable orders will help address some of this by targeting the repeat this by targeting the repeat offenders and ensuring they face real consequences for and restoring neighbourhood policing, where most of all, we will send a message that we will not stand for this.

Another crime which, for too long, has been seen as low-level but effectively decriminalised, is shoplifting. My mum was a shop worker, working in what was then the Co-op in my constituency, she encountered shoplifting on a regular basis, and I'm sad to say much worse, my mum was assaulted at work, as were many other women that she worked with. When it comes to violence against shopworkers, we need the police and businesses to take every possible step to protect workers and customers, and punish those responsible.

And I strongly welcome the proposals in this bill. Madame , people deserve and demand feel safe. This bill contains many steps in the right direction, to ensure crime does not dictate the way we live our lives and those responsible face the consequences of their irresponsible actions. Our police must have the resources and powers to tackle antisocial and violent crime, both in prevention and punishment, it is about protecting our communities and making sure they have places to live, work and raise families in peace. That is something we want and something we need to deliver.



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I rise to support this bill. Much

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I rise to support this bill. Much of the Crime and Policing Bill is fulfilling Labour's mission to make our streets safer by dealing with what is sometimes called low-level what is sometimes called low-level criminality, but what in reality are crimes that make people feel unsafe in their own community. Whether in their own community. Whether shoplifting, public drug and alcohol abuse, online harms or antisocial, lawbreaking must always be dealt lawbreaking must always be dealt with and never ignored. So, I would like to warmly acknowledge in particular, the proposed changes to the law around retail crime.

Lawbreaking is sadly commonplace in retail, I remember how many years ago when I worked at a clothing shop in the centre of Glasgow as a student, he and my colleagues had to deal with threats, intimidation, even the prospect of being stabbed
19:40
David Smith Portrait David Smith MP (North Northumberland, Labour)
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even the prospect of being stabbed I have seen firsthand how this kind of intimidation can affect people in the working environment, and I went to the Co-op in Morpeth in a North to the Co-op in Morpeth in a North Northumberland in my constituency recently, and I heard from store colleagues and Co-op staff that the situation facing retail workers as only become worse. With workers, at times, facing industrial levels of shoplifting and threats of physical harm. That is why I welcome the removal of the Tories de facto who pound flora shoplifting prosecution, as well as the new offence of assaulting a retail worker.

No one, as we have said in here, no one should have to fear for their safety, in order to make a living. However, I welcome assurances from the Secretary of State and the the Secretary of State and the Minister, for some things outlined, defining antisocial, is conduct that has caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to any person. I ran a homelessness charity and I can envisage a possible scenario where a tenant with the potential to be troublesome is issued with a respect order, barring them from entering the tower block in which they live.

They do not have alternative accommodation, so they enter the flat anyway. Upon doing so, they could be arrested, charged, or put on trial and issued with a prison term. This may not be a saint, but would help the outcome, for someone who is simply trying to go home, so I would welcome some alleviation of my concerns on this matter. Sticking with antisocial, I also know my time in homelessness, alongside law and order, we need other tools in our toolbox to help those with multiple and complex needs.

Northumbria University research reported it with 22, 94% of those facing homelessness have experienced serious trauma during their lives. It is that trauma which is underlying the often chaotic and unpleasant behaviours we can see in other towns and cities full of some of these who are causing many misery to others, are others experiencing neglect, we should remember that homelessness, being homeless itself as a trauma. We can more successfully address that behaviour, by taking a trauma informed approach, by offering appropriate support services. It is not about support services.

It is not about being soft. Crime is crime, but if we genuinely want to stop the cycle of offending, we have multiple options at our disposal, including supportive options, when we went and witnessed antisocial, we should have cost be firmly saying you must not do that or they will be consequences, but we should also be asking what happened to you that led you to this point in your life? Even as we pursue a much-needed focus on antisocial and crime, I welcome clarification that traumatise people who are often stuck in a loop of fail systems will receive the support they need.

This bill will do a lot of good and I am sure the Minister will be able to put to rest

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the concerns I expressed. The measures in this Crime and Policing Bill are very much needed by by constituents in Morecambe and by by constituents in Morecambe and Lunesdale. One of the first pieces of casework I've dealt with as an MP was young children riding recklessly around on small motorbikes with no
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Lizzi Collinge Portrait Lizzi Collinge MP (Morecambe and Lunesdale, Labour)
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around on small motorbikes with no helmets. My constituent, Helen, was at her wits end with a dreadful noise and fear that one of the children already passing pedestrian might get hurt. I recently asked for an update, and her husband Malcolm told me whilst there has been some relief recently, they are concerned the lighter nights will bring more problems. What frustrates them is the weight for a police response. Recently -- Waiting for a police response. Recently, we have reports Garage, and the police gave chase and sees one of the bikes.

After that, a town centre playground was taken over by people on bikes, with reports they were being " Purposely menacing" And their bikes had damaged the grassy area near the playground. It was simply look that no one was hurt. In Morecambe, local organisations are coming together to tackle the menace of antisocial. The safe Morecambe initiative, which brings together more companies, Morecambe business improvement district, the City Council, the town council, and other key stakeholders was formed in November last year, they collaborate to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.

I met one of their number, Tim, to discuss the coalition and will continue to support them. And for the operation Centurion, which I am very glad to say, the funding has continued. Our High Street in Morecambe has been badly affected by theft. The Conservatives wrote a lot of this offers low level, but it is not low-level. In certain parts of Morecambe added some of my rural areas, they suffer terribly with fly tipping. I am glad to see all of these issues covered in this Crime and Policing Bill.

I do see the Labour government is focused on the issues that matter to my constituents. This bill will make it easier to seize those bikes and scooters being used antisocial. It will see strong action in factional types of antisocial. It will see statutory guidance on fly tipping, extra 13,000 police officers on the Finally, I would like to flag the decimation of youth services, which have meant that some young people have been left to be sucked into the group of antisocial behaviour groomed into far more serious criminality.

I have expressed interest in my constituency becoming a pilot area for the National youth strategy program because I believe that good use services not only ensure that young people are able to reach potential but they have huge, wider knock-on effect on constituencies. All in all, I am pleased to see that this Labour government is taking the concerns of my constituents seriously. Taking strong action to tackle the blight of bikes and scooters been misused, taking theft seriously, getting tough on fighters, and stamping down on the wider antisocial that we see

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in our constituencies. Thank you. I am really pleased to speak in this in support of the Crime and this in support of the Crime and Policing Bill, the most competent package of measures we have seen for package of measures we have seen for decades, as a member of the Justice Committee, I know that this will play a crucial part in tackling Serious Violence Reduction Order and Serious Violence Reduction Order and offences that have played the communities for too long, I will focus my contribution today on knife focus my contribution today on knife crime.

In my own constituency, we have seen firsthand the impact of have seen firsthand the impact of knife crime on our streets and the
19:47
Pam Cox Portrait Pam Cox MP (Colchester, Labour)
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fear because of it. However, we are also witnessing some remarkable local initiatives that are making a difference. Last year, the knife angel, a 27 foot tall sculpture made of over 1,000... 100,000 used knives, visited Colchester, a powerful symbol of our city's powerful symbol of our city's commitment to tackling knife crime. Standing beneath our iconic watchtower, it served as a poignant reminder of lives lost and the need reminder of lives lost and the need for action, it brought the community together, fostered a shared determination to address this head on and I pay tribute to the Gazette for their own campaign that ran alongside the striking exhibit.

I want to pay tribute to the work of Essex police in tackling knife, their violence and an ability unit rings together partners across the county to do this, they use data violation targeting interventions, communication campaigns to support young people to stay safe and to keep them away from the exploitation and vulnerabilities that can draw them into crime, as we have heard today. Finally, I want to highlight the work of a man named Peter Dutch and the ALB group.

ALB stands for the antiliberal brigade. On another occasion, I will explain the story behind that. They have been pivotal in recent months in diverter young people away from trouble and they are building local alliances to provide counselling, youth projects, and other positive alternatives to crime. These local initiatives really exemplify the kind of community driven efforts that are essential for tackling knife crime, the Crime and Policing Bill will provide the necessary national tools that we need to amplify these efforts and make our streets safer and I urge members across the House, although not so many across the House right now, to join me in supporting this Bill, thank you.



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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, ensuring the safety and security of our communities is one of the most fundamental duties of government. fundamental duties of government. When a duty is neglected, the consequences are real, they are widespread and deeply felt by everyone, especially those who are everyone, especially those who are the most vulnerable. In recent years, the neglect has reached the point where local authorities like
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Lee Pitcher Portrait Lee Pitcher MP (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, Labour)
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point where local authorities like Doncaster City Council has had to step in to take up the slack and I want to thank and recognise the work they have done, including funding additional police and expanding CCTV networks to support the police. I know, funding walkaround, in areas like SORN, the impact that crime is having on our high streets and town centres. Shop owners and workers feel under constant threat. That is wrong. That is not good enough for the people of Thorn, it is not good enough for the people of Doncaster east and it is not good enough for the people.

I am proud to be part of the government that will clean up our streets from thieves and thugs. I am very glad to see that, with this Bill, the government will take on antisocial behaviours seriously. It is too easy to write off antisocial... ASB, antisocial behaviour, as nuisance or annoyance, but it is more than that. Continuous antisocial behaviour go on for months or even years, making people's lives miserable. It has been described to me, at a recent surgery, as a living torture.

The introduction of respect orders is a welcome addition to the tools available to authorities to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour and take strong, preventative action and I welcome provisions in this Bill that allow for the instant seizure of motorbikes without the need for previous warnings. Like many of my colleagues, I represent a rural areas, I know, from speaking to farmers how unsafe they can feel when they know that help is a long way away and have heard from farmers about the attacks on animals they have suffered.

The new powers in this Bill, to track stolen from equipment, help to deter criminals and stop them in their tracks before they can profit from their crimes. I asked the government to keep in mind, as this Bill progresses, how the ambitions of this Bill can be successful in a rural context. Finally, fly-tipping, every part of my constituency suffers from fly- tipping, often done by organised professional groups who are making money, passing themselves off as legitimate waste removal companies, they will only stop fly-tipping when it stops being profitable for them.

A boost to the use of powers to seize vehicles related to fly- tipping and issue Fixed Penalty Notices is a good step in the right direction and it is certainly very welcome. At home, at work, leisure, 24 seven, my constituents in Doncaster east should feel safe and be safe. For that reason, I hope every member of this House will join every member of this House will join

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me in voting for this Bill tonight. Thank you, Madam Speaker, first of all, can I pay tribute to all the of all, can I pay tribute to all the amazing speeches we have had on this side the House, you can see from how many of us are still here the many of us are still here the contrast to the opposite, how seriously this government and this

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party takes Law & Order. I absolutely agree with all of
19:53
Emily Darlington Portrait Emily Darlington MP (Milton Keynes Central, Labour)
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I absolutely agree with all of the members speeches, that I want to focus my speech, because of time, on the issue of violence against women and girls. Women in Milton Keynes are scared, they are scared of going out, they are scared of going to the police, and they are scared of going home. Which is still the most dangerous place for a woman. Violence against women and girls has been slowly... Slowly become consequence free under the previous government.

Under the Conservatives, only two to four% of reported rape ever made it to trial. Convictions for domestic abuse were halved and the Conservative government. And firm aside, 95 of which, including two from my own constituency, over Christmas, has continued to happen and not been taken seriously enough. I am proud of this Bill's and governments commitment to protect women and girls. And I want to pay tribute to the Milton Keynes portion of Thames Valley police, who have been central in ensuring that Milton Keynes becomes the first white ribbon city, despite their Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner.

I want to talk about stopping and how important measures on stocking are and, if I had time, which are my own story of how I was stalked, but what I'm interested in hearing from the Minister is, whilst my stocking may have happened in person, more and more is happening online. How will this Bill help to tackle that? Spiking, unfortunately, continues to rise and, just two weeks ago, a young woman in my constituency approached me after being spiked at a slug and lettuce on her 20th birthday.

She ended up in hospital. We have talked a lot about measures to protect women from being spiked, but what are we doing to make sure that the availability of the drugs used in spiking are absolutely tackled. And, finally, I want to talk about online. Those of you on the science and innovation and tech committee will know, the weak and quite frankly disappointing answers from the major social media firms when it came to this. They are using the umbrella of freedom of speech in order to allow these threats to women in online spaces to continue.

They are also using that to spread pretty radical pornography, and I want to understand how this Bill will fit with the government and cross government plans to tackle violence against women and girls. Finally, in the last few seconds I have, I want to raise two things on the statute books I would like to see repealed in this Bill. One, raised by my honourable friend before, from 1861, the abortion act, finally, the Vagrancy Act, both of which target the most vulnerable in our society and should be repealed.

Thank you.

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Thank you, crime and antisocial behaviour affect the whole community in which they take place. They erode social cohesion, trust, pride of place, driving people away from town centres and making them feel centres and making them feel insecure in their own streets, workplaces or even their own home. I am pleased today to speak in support of the Crime and Policing Bill, the largest package of measures for
19:57
Danny Beales Portrait Danny Beales MP (Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Labour)
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decades, crime and antisocial increased under the previous government, despite what the shadow Minister said. The reality is known by my constituents. In the year ending September 2024, the Home Office recorded the highest ever increase in shoplifting offences. One in five shoplifters were physically assaulted in a year. Incidents of theft from the person increased 22%. In my own community, I have heard from many constituents worried about rising levels of crime. Nice, shoplifting, burglary, phone and car theft.

The last weekend alone, on Sunday, I had 21 constituents write to me to share concerns about burglary. This news is distressing to my constituents, many of whom feel unsafe in their own homes and believe the police do not have the resources needed to protect them, this cannot go on. Increases in antisocial behaviour are a symptom of a society in distress, far too often, this was dismissed by the last government as low-level crime, unwilling and unable to act. Well, I welcome the measures in this Bill to introduce respect orders on the worst offenders, banning persistent offenders from town centres, this is welcome news for many of my constituents who contacted me about these activities.

Critically, this Bill will keep my constituents safe and protect them from armed burglary. It will create a new power of the police to seize, retain and destroy related articles, create a new criminal offence for possessing a bladed article with the intent to cause harm, and it will ban the possession and this vision of electric devices which are often used for vehicle theft, and create a targeted powerful police to enter premises and search and seize electronic stolen goods. Ending the terrible situation my constituent have reported, when a contract the stolen phone or electronic item but the police are unable to go in and get the device.

I hope we can look at international vehicle crime and tougher measures to stop the rapid theft and removal from the country of stolen vehicles. As well as tougher laws, the police must have the resources they need to apply them and the return to neighbourhood policing. The government has increased police funding in the last year, which is incredibly welcome, but there remain significant pressures on London policing, whilst I welcome the uplift, I hope we can continue to increase the resources of the Metropolitan Police.

My predecessor closed a number of police stations and police counters, I welcome the mayor of London's commitment to keep Axbridge police station open and I hope we can work together to reopen the front counter. In summary, I strongly support this Bill and the new measures and increased police powers along with the uplift to police funding already agreed by this new government. These measures will help to restore trust, improve the safety of my constituents, and I of my constituents, and I

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This bill presents an opportunity to confront the challenges facing to confront the challenges facing our communities, protect the most vulnerable, and ensure that justice vulnerable, and ensure that justice serves everyone. I welcome the government's commitment to tackling government's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, antisocial, and carving knife crime. antisocial, and carving knife crime. This is a positive step forward, in
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Mary Kelly Foy Portrait Mary Kelly Foy MP (City of Durham, Labour)
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protection for the public. And addressing some of the damning policies of the previous government. Madame Deputy Speaker, I must therefore turn my attention to the impact of the police, crime and sentencing courts act 2022. In its rush to extend police powers, this legislation has had a devastating effect on Gypsy and Traveller communities. The act introduced a new criminal offence related to trespass and granted sweeping powers to ban these communities for -- From areas for up to 12 months, as well as fine, rest, imprison, and sees homes for gypsies and travellers.

Under these provisions, sanctions can be enforced based on damage, disruption, or distress. Often rooted in objective perceptions of armour. This Ms entire communities could face eviction or banishment from areas, with little regard for the cultural context or lack of alternative bases to settle. These measures are a grave injustice, and an affront to the rights and the dignity of those who follow centuries old ways of life. And it is concerning that in the supposedly pursuit of law and order, the previous government overlooked fundamental human rights protections.

I must stress that the impact of these measures is not theoretical, it is real and is being lived. It's effect on families, children, and entire communities. Human rights bodies have raised their concerns. The United Nations committee on the elimination of racial discrimination and its formal recommendation has called for the repeal of the commissions in question. And importantly, the High Court, in its ruling in 2024, found that certain provisions in the act were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Madame Deputy Speaker, this Parliament has Deputy Speaker, this Parliament has a duty to address these issues on human rights, violations, and correct the injustices done. The Crime and Policing Bill offers us the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past, restore fairness, and ensure laws that respect the rights of all people regardless of their heritage or way of life. This bill could be the means by which we address the discrimination faced by gypsies and travellers. We need bold at to ensure their traditions are protected.

-- Bold at. All people and all communities have the right to fair treatment. If we really want to stand for justice and human dignity, that must apply to all. So, as the Chair of the APPG on Gypsy, Roma, and travellers, I as the government to undo the harm by previous legislation. Let's stand for protection on all who live in

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the United Kingdom. May I declare an interest as a

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May I declare an interest as a member and former employee, can I begin by welcoming the bill brought begin by welcoming the bill brought forward by the government. I want to discuss three broad areas. Antisocial, retail crime, and
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Tracy Gilbert Portrait Tracy Gilbert MP (Edinburgh North and Leith, Labour)
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Antisocial, retail crime, and measures to end commercial sexual exploitation. May I begin with antisocial, which I know is an increasing concern for my constituents in Edinburgh North & Leith. Over the past few months, constituents have relate to me their concerns over a group of young people who have been dubbed the Baby Gang, their name may make them seem nonthreatening but their actions are. Madame Deputy Speaker, the actions of the Baby Gang have alarmed my constituents and made them afraid. The tragedy is, many of these gang members are only in their midteens.

During the general election campaign, constituents told me repeatedly how they are fed up of off-road bikes being used in parks and pavements. That is why I am so pleased to see the bill will not only have provisions to tackle antisocial behaviour but also the use of off-road motorbikes being used in this manner. These issues are devolved to the Scottish parliament, so I hope the Scottish government, although they are not here, will look closely at these measures. Turning to retail crime, I would like to congratulate the government on the measures contained in this bill to tackle the unacceptable attacks and assaults on shopworkers.

The provisions in part three of the bill replicate legislation that has already been brought forward by members of the Scottish parliament, and my colleague, securing the protections of workers Scotland Act 2021. We are beginning to see the positive impact of this legislation, the effect the bill has in shops at supermarkets across Scotland. Which is evidenced in the data. And from the latest research, 70% of shopworkers across the UK reported abuse. 53% reported being threatened, and 10% reported being assaulted.

The data from Scotland is lower. Demonstrating that over a few years, the introduction of specific crime, is helping and creating a safer environment for shopworkers. I welcome this protection, because protection of work should not be limited. Madame Deputy Speaker, one final areaALBA SOTORRA CLUA: To raise in this bill that has no specific measures is to reduce prostitution or sex trafficking. In 2023, the Home Affairs Select Committee found that work was needed in this area, a report on the inquiry for human trafficking found the National crime agency and Home Office, with Pippi websites, has produced no improvement from this evidence.

I believe the bill should go further in tackling this exploitation. This would help action required to tackle pimping websites. I would be grateful to hear from the Minister whether the government would look favourably on amendments that seek to make profiting from prosecution of another person a criminal offence. In conclusion, Madame Deputy Speaker, this bill will go along way in reducing crime, and I hope when we next consider the bill in this place, it will contain measures that reduce the commercial

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exploitation of women. Antisocial ruins lives. On

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Antisocial ruins lives. On Friday, I held a debate, the first Friday, I held a debate, the first in a series of events across my constituency to listen to the community about antisocial behaviour and their stories were and their stories were heartbreaking. Families terrorised by problem residents, children scared to go to school. And scared to go to school. And residents fearing for their property and personal safety. All the while, and personal safety. All the while, people have no trust, that making reports of the police will bring an end to the fear that families are facing.

Sadly, this lack of trust has become all too common in communities, since the last government. Especially when they know that no matter how many reports they make, or how much evidence they have, the police either will not turn up or will turn up late. And then they will not take people seriously. After the last government hollowed out policing services. Yes I will.

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I thank my honourable friend for giving way. Does he not agree with me it is vital for members from the opposition of the previous
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Josh Fenton-Glynn Portrait Josh Fenton-Glynn MP (Calder Valley, Labour)
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opposition of the previous government to be here to listen as we talk about our constituents on

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how the last government failed them. I absolutely agree, the last

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I absolutely agree, the last government did fail, indeed in West government did fail, indeed in West Yorkshire alone, with just six years taking office, over 1,200 police taking office, over 1,200 police officers had been let go. And 1,000 of those were in frontline roles, leaving the police numbers even more leaving the police numbers even more depleted than the numbers on the benches opposite. And when they rose back again, it just was not the back again, it just was not the same.

Because what they fail to recognise, police are more than just a number and a spreadsheet. What they got rid of was 1,200 officers who knew their communities, who added local intelligence and understanding of the local nuances and experienced supporting those neighbourhoods. What we lost was the very heart of neighbourhood-based policing. The best tool to combat antisocial. One of the best reassurances evidence can have. This lack of local knowledge is why I have seen over 3,000 reports of antisocial in over three years, ruining lives, and the lack of trust in police afterwards is why I know that there will be so many more incidents that simply go unreported.

After 14 years in the last Conservative government allowing antisocial behaviour and with a crime to go unchecked, I am proud of this Labour government is restoring respect to law and order. Standing with and bringing communities and police together, closer together, with named offices in every community, backed by 200 million of Recruitment for new neighbourhood police officers and ending the impunity criminals feel they can operate, by giving officers stronger powers to tackle antisocial, violent crime and persistent offenders, who are making people's lives a misery.

Against this backdrop of a lack of trust by the people in our police service, which was allowed to fester over 14 years. This bill is an important step in the process of rebuilding trust and confidence. And why on behalf of my constituents in Calder Valley, who have suffered because of antisocial, I am backing the bill to take action today, thank you.

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In Ashton oral, and heavily green, one issue Dominic's life so green, one issue Dominic's life so many. Antisocial. -- Dominates life. Antisocial behaviour. I thank the Antisocial behaviour. I thank the team for the hard work required to bring into the House so quickly. To bring into the House so quickly. To my mind, this bill is one of the strongest examples of the Labour government delivering for working
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Josh Simons Portrait Josh Simons MP (Makerfield, Labour)
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government delivering for working people on the issues they care about. This bill takes tough action against Serious Crime Act, drugs, knife crime, and terrorism. I want to talk about a different more everyday type of crime. Crimes that make life demoralising, and sometimes frightening for many people, and how they feel in a town centre. And community. Fly tipping that stops parents from letting their kids play outside. Groups intimidating people by the shops. Some of the toughest calls I have had in this job have been people ringing to tell me folks have destroyed a local sports club.

Ashton town, an attack, Saint Jude, pictures destroyed in minutes by pictures destroyed in minutes by vandals on dirt bikes. These clubs are great community assets. Work is that I represent learn to become Wigan Warriors or the elderly play walking football, places where people feel pride in their communities. I supported fundraisers to help these clubs, working with local councillors and Warriors players, to help keep the bikes out. They shouldn't have to reach into their already stretched pockets. Our streets shouldn't feel so unsafe people resort to self protection.

We are one of the world's largest economies, and greatest democracies. That is why I welcome the measures in this bill. Like new powers to seize bikes that wake people up at night, as they did me this Saturday. Every time one of these bikes has passed me in the town centre, I hold onto my kids that little bit tighter. Madame Deputy Speaker, this bill matters because it is about standing up for the good, hard- working people, who love their towns and wants to feel pride in them again.

It is about what it means to feel respect for those who use standby and who you live near, and it shows the Labour government will not tolerate those who make others lives a misery. The respect orders in this bill for example are wisely name, because vandalism, thuggery, and mindless destruction are about a lack of respect for our public spaces and for each other. The bill empowers groups in society with restoring that respect. Police, councils, housing associations, asking them to say enough is enough and taking control of their and taking control of their communities.

I want to make a wider point about respecting our society. So often when I'm travelling on the bus or the train. Someone is playing videos loudly on their phone, without headphones. This isn't illegal but it is offputting. Because it forces whatever that person is doing onto everyone else, as if they somehow own our shared public space. It demonstrates a lack of respect for our public and for those around us. Because the strength of our communities and our country depends on the respect and love we have for each other.

That is what resilience is in a community. Over the last 14 years, the Conservative government have allowed a respectable road, too many no longer trust the law will be upheld equally and fairly apply to everyone, and that erodes trust in one another. That is why antisocial matters. It's about treating one another with a lack of respect, as if we don't care about the things we have in common. Only by rebuilding and reinvesting in our public realm, restoring the strength and integrity of institutions like the police, will be rebuilt in that respect and trust.

This bill takes a vital step and shows we stand with law-abiding people, it sends a strong message to those who fail to recognise that responsibility, respect must return to our streets and this bill will to our streets and this bill will
20:16
Jessica Toale Portrait Jessica Toale MP (Bournemouth West, Labour)
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I express my thanks to the team for bringing forward this Bill. There are three areas that I want to cover where we promised change and we are delivering. First is antisocial behaviour, which we have heard much about today, and it continues to blight my town centre, I hear time and time again from constituents about how unsafe they feel, antisocial behaviour is reportedly turning away potential retailers from setting up, it is not just a question of low-level inconvenience, it is a matter of people's everyday quality of life and the economic health of our towns, the rise in street crime, shoplifting and nuisance has made many people feel like they can't enjoy where they live in the way that these two.

I have spoken to retail workers and bosses from the Co-op and other retailers have had to deal with same people over and over again coming into their stores and sweeping stock from the shelves. The Conservatives should be ashamed of this record, after 14 years, our communities have been left vulnerable, an epidemic of crime and antisocial patient been ignored for too long, we are taking action, the last government failed to, by removing that £200 threshold, introducing the 13,000 neighbourhood police officers, increasing policing funding, including 6.5% Dorset police will receive an introducing respect orders to give police, and local authorities, new powers to tackle the worst offenders and prevent them from entering towns.

I welcome the steps in this Bill to seize those awful offering makes, and dangerous scooters, that cause such a nuisance and at Bishop Oldham's primary this morning, students told me these bikes are destroying our woodlands and heathlands in the constituency. Secondly, this Bill addresses serious crime and violence like nice which is something that we have seen far too often in Bournemouth, just less than two weeks ago, there was a double stabbing, part of a long line of horrific attacks in the last two years.

I welcome the work this government is doing to prevent these kinds of attacks but I want to put on record that, despite the captive work of the police, the council and local charities, I want to see a Violence Reduction Unit in my local area and it is not just about punishing offenders, the Bill provides support for those who want to turn their lives around and there is amazing work happening in my constituency, providing positive outlet for young people, so I want to encourage the Home Secretary to look for opportunities to support activities like these and collaborate with charities through the program.

Finally, it is about time that we strengthen laws to protect women and girls. Last week, I held an event to better understand women's perception of their own safety in the town centre and highlight the way that policing, the council, businesses and design can contribute to this. It is very welcome that we are creating new offences for spiking and stalking and shameful that previous government have failed to make these changes, I am proud of this capital, the directions Laban has taken, we are not just talking about crime, we are taking action to reduce it and whilst it may be unrealistic to expect the party opposite would take responsibility, there would have to be in the chamber to do that.

Perhaps they can join my constituents, who I know will welcome this Bill and would want to see cross-party support for these changes.

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I wanted to begin my remarks by reflecting on the non-attendance throughout this debate of reform UK, it appears, Madam Deputy Speaker, that they spend more time, these days, litigating against each other than they do legislating in this than they do legislating in this place. When I knock on doors or sit place. When I knock on doors or sit in my surgery in Crewe, often I meet
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Connor Naismith Portrait Connor Naismith MP (Crewe and Nantwich, Labour)
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people living in perpetual fear in their own community, the one thing their own community, the one thing that those people have in common is that they want to see neighbourhood that they want to see neighbourhood policing restored and I'm proud that this is something that this government is committed to. Neighbourhood policing was decimated under the previous government, under the previous government, despite what the Shadow Home Secretary said earlier. I will not Secretary said earlier. I will not give way.

What they also tell me is, I want to feel like the police are equipped with the powers that they need to grip the problems that leave them fearful on the streets or in their homes. Rising antisocial behaviour has been a scourge on our streets, affecting my constituents businesses, livelihoods and even the health, like the young woman who contacted me recently about the young males who make her and her children's lives in misery by knocking and kicking her door in the evenings, shouting " Bitch!" As they pass her home.

All my constituent, Steve, whose families lives are made in living hell by the small number of social housing tenants who the housing provider has failed to take any action to address. That is why I fully support the respect orders contained within this Bill, which will allow a number of agencies to place restrictions on this kind of behaviour. Now, at this point, I declare an interest, I started my working life as a shop worker, first, in Woolworths, and then, in betting shops, a part of the retail sector which has never been a stranger, unfortunately, to violence and intimidation for workers.

However, as I found out, when I met with James, in Crewe, crime and intonation of shopworkers has become commonplace in even our local convenience stores. I believe that this Bill will make a lasting difference to the lives of my constituents, from business owners, to workers, and decent, law-abiding people who just want to live in a community where they feel safe. They are ambitious and we must ensure they deliver real, lasting change for the people who need it most.



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Thank you. I am proud, today, to speak in support of the crime and. Crime and day-to-day antisocial behaviour, feels to have grown behaviour, feels to have grown exponentially over recent years. It impacts every part of my impacts every part of my constituency, from the town centres to the villages, and suburban areas.
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Adam Thompson Portrait Adam Thompson MP (Erewash, Labour)
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to the villages, and suburban areas. This Bill is about making people feel safe, residents can live their lives free from the fear of crime. As the local police forces were gutted by austerity, low-level offences like antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, burglary, have been ignored and decriminalised by the Conservative party. Shoplifting, for example, is one of the crimes functionally to colonised under previous governments negligence, a government who set guidelines stating that shoplifting should not be dealt with if less than £200 worth of goods were stolen.

Whilst the major supermarkets and surviving High Street chains might be able to stomach that volume, it is small businesses that can't. However businesses supposed to grow? How are investments supposed to be made? Town centre supposed to drive, people meant to feel safe? When criminals and thieves were given impunity by the previous government, through the shoplifter's charter, issued by them? The Bill that we debate today, repeals that thieves charter which will come as a relief to business owners and the hard- working, law-abiding majority of people who make up both my constituents and our country.

Nice has more than doubled in Derbyshire, the recent horrific stabbing and death of a teenager in my constituency has given rise, rightly, to a lot of anger. Some of which was ended up directed at me, with people asking me, what am I going to do about it? Well, that is why I will be very proud to vote for a Bill today that creates a new offence for the possession of a bladed item with the intent to cause harm.

It gives police the new... New stronger powers that they need to seize, keep and destroy lives, confiscated from private properties. Finally, I will come to violence against women and girls. In 24, 13,000 stalking and harassment offences were recorded in timeshare, the highest in the east Midlands, along with more than 3,400 sexual offences. In that time, one of my great friends and constituents reported to the police that she had been followed and shouted at with sexual, verbal abuse, this abuse happened in public, in broad daylight.

It is this governance mention to half violence against women and girls in a decade and if we are to do that, our police need the measures included in this Bill. If we have entered into the decade of national renewal that this government has promised, yes, we need to get the economy growing, yes, we need to get Britain building again, yes we need to get NHS back on its feet, but we must also ensure that crime is punished and the police given the powers that they need to properly enforce offenders.

We need to take back our streets and excise the rot, if we can do this, restoring social order and respect for the communities, we can fix broken Britain.

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Thank you, I warmly welcome the clauses of this landmark Bill, which clauses of this landmark Bill, which will give rate protection to victims of stalking and clarify what constitutes stalking so that the police have no excuse not to pursue incidents. That includes guidance to police about disclosing the identity police about disclosing the identity of online stalkers to victims. 91% of online stalkers to victims. 91% of stalking victims surveyed by one trust had suffered from mental health problems as a result of being stalked.

Being stalked is an indicator of being at high risk of domestic homicide. It is vital that victims feel safe to report what they are suffering. Which is why I welcome the opening of the new
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20:30
Sureena Brackenridge Portrait Mrs Sureena Brackenridge MP (Wolverhampton North East, Labour)
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show you doorbell footage where our streets have become a hunting ground for criminals. It's incredible that today criminals can carry sophisticated car theft devices like signal jammers, keyless repeaters, signal amplifiers and unless they are caught using them in the act, they can't be arrested. What that ends with this bill. Simply possessing these tools will be a criminal offence now. This is long overdue. Last year, more than 700,000 vehicles were broken into, 40% of them using these high-tech devices.

Now this bill will deliver around 50 new laws, finally cracking down on crime and antisocial behaviour. And again, some of these changes begs the question, why weren't these laws already in place? Violent attacks on shopworkers will now be a stand-alone offence. Shoplifting no longer dismissed as a low value crime with a £200 loophole fuelling an epidemic of theft. New powers will ensure repeat offenders are banned from retail areas more quickly, and they will stay away. Illegal off-road by immediate seizure, no more warnings.

No more second chances. If you write illegally, you will lose your bike. -- Ride. And instead of it being auctioned off and back into the hands of yobs, it will be crushed. Just last Friday, I went out on a walkabout with the neighbourhood police in Wentzville High Street. Whence field is a safe area with lower crime than other high streets in Wolverhampton and will -- I was appalled to hear from shopworkers the brazen theft they endure. I spoke to a young lady just turned 19 he was petrified every time it happens, and shop theft in her shop happens every day.

Theft has become so normalised that staff are struggling to report every incident because I simply can't keep up. As because I simply can't keep up. As door, the retail workers union has been calling for stronger protection for years, and they welcome this bill. They have said that tougher laws are needed to protect shopworkers, and we welcome this legislation is a vital step in tackling retail violence. West Midlands police now have 540 fewer officers than they did in 2010.

I

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will give way. Is my neighbour in the West

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Is my neighbour in the West Midlands, she talks about 540 fewer officers being in our area between officers being in our area between 2010 and 2024. I was also really concerned to see we had reached the highest level of knife crime in the highest level of knife crime in the country in our part of the West Midlands. Does she agree with me that since the Labour Party has been elected, we started to bring that number down? And she welcomed the

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number down? And she welcomed the fact that we are now on the trajectory to improve the situation? I certainly do support that. We are now no longer the knife crime capital of the world in the West Midlands, and it goes to show the effective work that the police have done in partnership with local authorities, the combined authority, the violence reduction units that we have and a lot of very dedicated volunteers, and of course our fantastic schools in the West Midlands.

So when it comes to reversing the decimation of neighbourhood policing, I am delighted that whence field and heat town have recently received an extra police officer and PCSO. And will in awe a new PCSO. But this is just the beginning. Labour are turning this around, and we will rebuild neighbourhood policing because this is how you prevent crime before it happens. Good old-fashioned community intelligence and presence. This Bill will make my constituents safer and make sure they feel safer.

To the criminals, who are getting away with stealing cars, intimidating shop staff or tearing up our green spaces with illegal bikes and terrorising our communities. Enough is enough, and I wholeheartedly support this bill.

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Perhaps the most pernicious effect of 40 years of Conservative government is the way that they government is the way that they systematically undermine security in every part of our society. Whether every part of our society. Whether it was national security and the hollowing out of our Armed Forces, hollowing out of our Armed Forces, whether it was financial security, whether it was financial security, our economy crashed and wages stagnating, or whether it was security in our communities, with town centres played with unsocial town centres played with unsocial behaviour, off-road by sterilising states and being out of control, which this bill seeks to deal with.

It opens up a political space into which populists with no real answers can enter to further their own selfish ambitions, although speaking of populists with no answers, I would like to point out that Reform UK have not spent one second in this debate here today on antisocial behaviour in our communities. In Hartlepool for far too long, the entrance to our shopping centre known locally as the ramp on York Road has been plagued by individuals who seek to intimidate and disrupt the daily lives of decent hard- working people.

I am fed up of hearing about families and pensioners who tell me they are too scared to walk through our town centre. Whatever the personal challenges of this small minority, they have no right to make the people of Hartlepool feel unsafe in their community. As chair of the
20:37
Jonathan Brash Portrait Mr Jonathan Brash MP (Hartlepool, Labour)
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safer partnership, a device to a safer partnership, a device to a comprehensive action plan for police to implement. It includes a range of targeted interventions designed to targeted interventions designed to tackle the issue head-on, which this bill enhances and extends. One key measure is the use of public space measure is the use of public space protection orders, which allows to prohibit certain behaviours in and around a particular geographic area. around a particular geographic area. This bill reinforces that by increasing the maximum fine for increasing the maximum fine for violating such an order from 100 from £100-£500, ensuring stronger deterrence against antisocial behaviour.

I'm also pushing for the greater use of enforcement powers, including dispersal orders which this bill extends from 48 to 72 hours, and community safety accreditation schemes which grant police enforcement powers to counsel, shopping centre and other security teams helping to free up police resources, which this bill again extends and strengthens. The introduction of respect orders, a new civil behaviour order that allows courts to ban offenders from engaging in specific antisocial activities will be huge tool in Hartlepool. Bridging rest respect order will be a criminal offence, allowing police to swiftly intervene and prevent further disruption.

Importantly, these orders can also include positive requirements, compelling offenders to address the root causes of their behaviour and approach particularly in communities that I represent where drug-related issues are often at the heart of the problem. I further welcome this bill's actions on off-road by, that terrorised communities in Hartlepool. And no I fully spoken to the Minister about further powers that I would like to see included in this bill to enhance it. This bill also tackles the wider issues such as shoplifting, fly tipping and child protection.

They are not easy problems to fix, but with this bill we now have the toughest set of enforcement powers ever introduced by a government. It's our duty to

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ensure that we use them. The legacy of the Conservative government's 14 years in power is government's 14 years in power is one of failure to keep us safe, felt every day in my constituency of
20:39
Deirdre Costigan Portrait Deirdre Costigan MP (Ealing Southall, Labour)
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every day in my constituency of Ealing Southall. On King Street in Western Road and south, drug dealing is a common site that makes the area feel unsafe for everyone. The police don't have enough resources so the gurdwara has had to employ their own gurdwara has had to employ their own patrols at a cost of thousands of pounds to keep their worshippers safe. The Clocktower has become a magnet for street drinkers. The police try to move the man, but they just don't have the powers under the weak laws the Conservatives left us with.

In West Ealing, drug dealers openly ply their trade, even sitting in residence front porches when they're out while the police can't do much about it. And across London it's not safe to take a phone call on the street or you are liable to have your phone snatched. On top of this, fly tipping increased by one third under the previous government, making local neighbourhoods feel neglected and unloved. Of course the drug dealers, phone thieves and street drinkers moved in. Under the last Labour government, they used to be six police community support officers for every single ward in Ealing Southall.

But the Conservatives cut £1 billion from policing in London, so we are lucky to have a couple of local offices per ward, and they are dedicated per ward, and they are dedicated like they used to be. The get pulled to rental Harrow or central London. And under the previous Labour government, police had stronger powers too. The Conservatives actually reduced police powers. Now Labour has already started the work to bring back neighbourhood policing and to recruit 13,000 new offices with £320 million extra funding for police in London, and we will be making sure the police officers get back out on the streets instead of doing admin work like they were doing under the previous government.

Today's bill will give these new offices the tough powers they need to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime with 50 new laws to make our streets safer. Our new respect orders will mean the police can stop street drinkers congregating and stop drug dealers from coming into West Ealing and Southall. If people break respect orders, the police will now be able to arrest them immediately and take them to court where they can face up to two years in prison for the police will be able to drug test people on arrest and the orders will require them to access rehab services to the habit of dependency.

The bill will also give the police power to search your property without a warrant where they have evidence there was a stolen electronic device inside. I had my own phone stolen a while back. I could see was in East London on the internet, but the police can do anything about it. This law one army police can use find my iPhone app sticker after phone thieves and get stolen property back. And I'm delighted as part of this bill that the secretary of state will be issuing statutory guidance to local councils to help ensure a more consistent approach to fly tipping.

Ealing Council was the number one cancer in the borough, in the country rather when it comes to issuing fixed penalty notices issuing fixed penalty notices issuing fixed penalty notices Needs help to do more. And the Conservatives, fly tipping was allowed to spiral. It was seen as a low-level crime, but it blights communities, and I know this Labour government is looking at further steps we can take to punish fly tippers and reduce waste in the first place. After 14 years of Conservatives leaving local people in Ealing Southall to put up with open drugtaking, street drinking and snatch thefts, today Labour is giving the police back in power and the resources to take the tough action needed.

To make our streets safe again.

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This bill will be very much welcomed back in my constituency of Mansfield with this government introducing 50 new laws today that introducing 50 new laws today that will help cut crime and make streets safer in my area. And this includes measures to tackle antisocial measures to tackle antisocial behaviour, stop theft, particularly in shops, street crime head-on, giving the police and communities new powers to take back town centres new powers to take back town centres from thugs and thieves, tackling knife crime, violence against women and girls, cybercrime, child sexual abuse, terrorism.

And that said, there is one issue in particular that this bill deals with the time
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Steve Yemm Portrait Steve Yemm MP (Mansfield, Labour)
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particular pleased to see. Legal -- illegal offering by and e-scooters are a significant concern to many of my Mansfield constituency, and antisocial behaviour connected to antisocial behaviour connected to their inappropriate use is raised with me time and time again. On the doorstep, during the election campaign, and now my case working box. And if I can, I'd like to share one such example of a constituent one such example of a constituent who recently contacted me on this who recently contacted me on this issue, he said early yesterday while out with my husband doing grandparents school duties, we were yet again placed in a serious and dangerous situation.

Several youths appeared out of nowhere, wearing balaclavas, weaving around our vehicle before racing off in different directions. The silence of them means you have no awareness before they appear in front of your car. And many constituents report similar concerns, exasperated that nothing can be done to deal with the issue. Enough is enough, and I'm delighted to announce after discussions I've had with local offices in Mansfield that the police are launching a crackdown over the coming weeks to tackle this antisocial behaviour related to off-road bikes and e-scooters in my As part of this, officers are appealing to the public to come forward via a new email setup with my office by the 101 phone line, to report any illegal bike related to antisocial behaviour.

Using this information, officers will take significant enforcement action. To target those who are terrorising communities in Mansfield. I will be working closely with the police during the campaign and I will be holding a public meeting on March 21 with the police so we can explain how it will work. I would be delighted to update the Home Secretary on progress. More information will be released by my office in the coming days. But this crackdown will rely on my constituents acting as the eyes and ears on the ground.

Without their reports, the project will not be a success. So I urge local people in Manchester to get involved in this. To conclude, my message to those causing misery in Mansfield is this, we see you. The police are coming for you. And our communities will not let you get away with this any

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longer. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I encourage any honourable members to come and visit us in Derby and Derby city centre. They will find a city that is firmly on the up, with city that is firmly on the up, with a bright future ahead. City centre regeneration projects are full steam ahead. We are creating fantastic ahead. We are creating fantastic cultural and community hubs in Derby. Whether it is our multi- Derby. Whether it is our multi- million pound revamp of our market all, the revamping of the library or Derby University's new business hall.

All set to open the doors in the coming months. I want everyone in our community to be able to take a walk around our city and feel proud and safe. But whilst we are rightly excited about the future that Derby holds, we also have to acknowledge the problems the city centre faces. Their pride is tested when we see fly-tipping on the side of the road. It is tested again when we are worried about walking on the pavement because of e-scooters being
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Baggy Shanker Portrait Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )
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used and you socially. It is tested further when you are a shop worker further when you are a shop worker worried about going to work because yesterday you were threatened during a shoplifting incident. There are lots of fantastic work underway on these issues at the local level. these issues at the local level. example the work of our Police and Crime Commissioners and Derby Constabulary, who are clamping down on illegal e-scooters. Seizing and disposing of more than 200 since just November last year.

But I and my constituents know that more needs to be done. So that they can feel proud and safe in the city which we call home. That is why I absolutely welcome the measures ring introduced today in this bill. It will go further to protect city centres like Derby and their residents from antisocial behaviour and crime. Whether it is the employees at our central Co-op, or the Asda superstore, it is right that this bill will introduce specific measures to protect them from retail crime.

Shockingly, in 2023, 18% of shopworkers were assaulted. Nobody, and I say again, nobody should fear going into work which is why I am pleased that this bill will make assaulting a shopworker a stand-

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alone offence. Thank you. I am most grateful to my honourable Friend from giving my honourable Friend from giving way. May I say to myself with his remarks and asking if he finds it as absurd as I do that under the absurd as I do that under the Conservatives there was effective immunity from shoplifting for goods immunity from shoplifting for goods of under £200? It means shoplifting rose by 60%. Does he welcome rose by 60%. Does he welcome therefore the fact that this effective immunity is ending? And the introduction of a new criminal offence which will protect shopworkers such as in my constituency of Chelsea and Fulham and have complained about this, being attacked from assault in the future?

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I thank my honourable friend for that time intervention. It is that time intervention. It is absolutely important that the £200 limit is being scrapped. I have spoken to many shopworkers who have said literally on a daily basis people are walking into the shops loading their bags and walking loading their bags and walking straight out. This bill also introduces tougher action on knife crime. More power to support councils to tackle fly-tipping, measures to let police seize vehicles like e-scooters.

Much faster if they are being used for anti-social purposes, and it will tackle violence against women and girls by introducing a specific new offence for spiking. I want every single person in Derby I'm sure everyone in the south once every single person across the country to feel safe, to enjoy our city and their place. I know this will represent a huge step forward in

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achieving that. That is why I fully support this bill. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. After 14 years of Conservative government, antisocial behaviour has government, antisocial behaviour has become far too common. Last year 36% of people reported experiencing of people reported experiencing antisocial behaviour. Police powers to tackle criminal behaviour have been persistently weakened. Our communities have been left exposed. We have had many powerful examples of this from members across the
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Peter Swallow Portrait Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)
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of this from members across the house today. That is why the measures in this bill are so badly needed. Shoplifting, casual drugtaking, reckless driving, and neighbourhood intimidation. These may not seem overly significant on their own but when committed persistently, these low level acts of social behaviour make our communities that one bit less safe, one crime at a time. Speaking to residents on the doorstep, I heard how a spate of car thefts were making people lose sleep at night.

Bracknell Forest is an incredible place to live with a comparatively low crime rate. Whether it is drugtaking, motorised bikes and driven around foot paths, or shoplifting targeting our shops, our communities feeling the effects of the Tories which response to crime and antisocial behaviour. Last year shoplifting in the constituency went up 46%. That is not just in the town centre but across Bracknell Forest including one store which has been repeatedly targeted and their staff threatened. And I've seen it myself sitting in a cafe of a local supermarket with the manager and watching as a shoplifter walks out of the shop.

Known to the staff, but with very little they can do to stop frequent thefts. I want to thank Thames Valley Police for the work they are doing to tackle this endemic shoplifting. I'm pleased to say the precipitous rise is now slowing down. The police need the right powers in place if they are to get to grips with the problem. That is why it is so welcome that the Crime and Policing Bill will introduce tough new respect orders to ban repeat offenders and anti- social hotspots.

We are introducing a new criminal offence to protect retail workers from abuse thanks to the fantastic campaigning by the Co-op party and a union. This bill will scrap the Tory shoplifter's charter which meant that under the previous government anyone caught shoplifting goods below £200 could escape prosecution. Many of my constituents are also concerned about the increasing numbers of casual drug users on our streets. In September a mother wrote to me with concerns about drug dealing going on in the town centre and the impact it has on vulnerable groups in the area.

I have heard concerns from local parents that drug dealers are targeting young people as they leave school. That is why it is so important the Crime and Policing Bill will introduce new police powers to make drug tests on suspects that are arrested easier, in respect orders to allow police to crackdown on repeat offenders. These new powers are an important step in delivering labours Safer Streets

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Mission. I thank him four giving way. He's

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I thank him four giving way. He's doing a great job of explaining the new powers that this bill will give to our police. When I speak to to our police. When I speak to police in my area they find it absurd that it has taken until now to be given such powers. Would he to be given such powers. Would he agree that the measures in this bill today are such commonsense that no reasonable party in this house should vote against them?

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should vote against them? Absolutely. It would be great to see more members from across the see more members from across the house here to support them. Indeed, the powers that this bill brings in our welcome but we have seen under the previous government a fall in the powers that already exist and being used. In 2010, Thames Valley Police issued over 6000 antisocial behaviour notices but in 2023, they only issued 412, and a 93% decrease in the use of those powers.

As I say, these new powers in this bill are an important step in delivering labours Safer Streets Mission. As well as giving police the right powers to crack down on antisocial behaviour, as friend mentioned, we also need to give them the right resources. That is why it is so important this government has increased police funding by over £1 billion. Thames Valley Police budget has been increased by 6.6%. Our Safer Streets Mission will see 13,000 additional officers on Britain's streets.

Along with the names contactable officer in each community. That will help people feel safe in their communities again. The Tories introduced chaos into our streets and our communities. And Labour will do the hard work needed to bring back order and security.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Firstly, as the daughter needs of Firstly, as the daughter needs of retired police officers, and other cousin, Alex, currently serving the cousin, Alex, currently serving the conservatory, I want to start passing huge thank you to Hampshire police. It is a privilege to speak police. It is a privilege to speak on the second reading of the Police and Crime Panels today. Legislation that seeks to strengthen law enforcement and restore public enforcement and restore public confidence in policing.

This bill is confidence in policing. This bill is about the real experience of our constituents who have suffered from crime and antisocial behaviour and feel the system is failing them. Take for example the store manager of a Tesco express in my constituency. In the first nine days
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Amanda Martin Portrait Amanda Martin MP (Portsmouth North, Labour)
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of the financial year, they logged 22 incidents of shoplifting, trespassing, verbal abuse, and trespassing, verbal abuse, and threats of violence. I welcome this threats of violence. I welcome this bill, ensuring the police have a mandate to act swiftly, particularly for repeat and organised retail crime, no matter the value of the crime, no matter the value of the stolen goods. Another constituents had their car vandalised twice. One incident was so severe the vehicle incident was so severe the vehicle was written off.

Vandalism is not a mere inconvenience, it is costly, distressing, and leaves people distressing, and leaves people feeling unsafe and own communities. Car theft also continues to plague my constituents with one resident having her car stolen four times and another constituents daughter having her mopeds stolen twice, and even having to recover it herself on one occasion. That is not to mention the number of traders subject to tool that. Through this bill we will empower police forces to take property crimes more seriously.

Make it easier to track and recover stolen vehicles, and ensure that victims of theft receive timely police responses. The Scottish estate, the London Road in North end, and other areas are some of the main roads where e-scooters, bikes, and cars race dangerously in my constituency. I'm pleased to see this bill removing the need for the police to issue a warning before seizure. For vehicles being used anti-social. This is the start of a real crackdown on vehicles being used to intimidate pedestrians and increase crime.

Antisocial behaviour we have heard today destroying quality-of-life for so many, and one of my constituents, an 80 year old woman, suffered relentless harassment from a neighbour. Her garden has been vandalised, furniture turnover, and she's been physically intimidated. I welcome this bill giving the police stronger powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, and strengthen use of existing antisocial powers. The shadow of knife crime hands over my constituency was the past month alone and even today, we have had two stabbings and an attempted murder involving two teenagers.

Parents are writing to be terrified for their children's safety and demanding action. Some have even raised concerns about the advertising of chef knives on TV for the eye welcome this bill giving police the power to detect knives of our streets, enforce tougher penalties for possession and intervene early to stop young people from getting into violent crime. Because knife crime kills. Finally, a father who has reached out to be deeply concerned about the safety of and girls in Portsmouth, his 15- year-old daughter, who loves running, has been Called and harassed multiple times.

She has not reported it because she believes it is wasting police time. As we know low-level crime of women can be a gateway to more serious crimes and I welcome this bill ringing new It's not a Portsmouth specific issue, not a labour issue, which is why is shocking to see the lack of opposition in this place today. It's all about constituents deserve to live in safe communities and deserve the MPs to make the changes and put the MPs to make the changes and put

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Is a pleasure to speak in support of this vital bill today, which will see the Labour government delivering on the promises made at the last election to return our town centres to our constituents that make our streets safe. This bill addresses pressing issues that have long plagued our society and its provisions are both timely and provisions are both timely and necessary, particularly on sexual abuse of children, knife crime and economic crime. First and child sexual abuse, the NSPCC has found sexual abuse, the NSPCC has found that over 100 child sexual abuse that over 100 child sexual abuse image crimes are recorded by police every day.

That's a horrifying statistic and one which should focus
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Phil Brickell Portrait Phil Brickell MP (Bolton West, Labour)
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statistic and one which should focus minds of all of us in this place, which is why supporting victims and survivors is quite rightly the cornerstone of this bill. And I very much welcome the steps to ensure that our criminal justices which has been neglected for far too long under previous Conservative governments is better equipped to handle these cases effectively. Second, the bills measures are knife crime, which will and also save children. Knife crime which has devastated armies in communities right across the country, indeed I will give way.



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Is an MP in Croydon, continuing

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Is an MP in Croydon, continuing to pay the price for the previous governance in action on youth crime are knife islands, does my honourable friend agree with me that honourable friend agree with me that when it comes to youth violence we have to also focus on prevention, and they also welcome the introduction of a youth young futures program so we can prevent

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futures program so we can prevent young people getting drawn into crime in the first place? I have seen the agree with my honourable friend that prevention is honourable friend that prevention is a fundamental, especially when it comes to youth crime. The senseless comes to youth crime. The senseless killing of seven-year-old Emily Jones in Queens in Bolton in 2020 was horrifying. Knife crime incidents have been on the rise in towns like Bolton for a number of years now, so we are we to Emily, to her family, to all those who have been affected by knife crime to take bold action and take it now.

And to this end I'm pleased to see the bill introduces tougher sentencing for repeat offenders and strengthens police powers to seize dangerous weapons before they are used to cause harm. Third, a number of the crimes I have detailed above are enabled by economic crimes like money-laundering and fraud. Indeed we heard earlier from the shadow Home Secretary about crime statistics, and what I would say to the benches opposite is we've seen a fraud epidemic over the last few years which has spiralled out of control under previous Conservative administrations and were frankly ignored by the shadow Home Secretary when he was a minister.

Indeed April 22 to March 23 saw 3.5 million cases of fraud in this country. That's 40% of all crime. According to the ONS. So by removing the ability of criminals to launder their ill gotten gains into the clean economy, we can remove primary incentive for the biz hay via that drive so much of the criminal activity -- behaviour, that we have been debating tonight. In fact having spent almost 15 years tackling economic crime myself, I would like to particular welcome new provisions in the bill to cap court costs for enforcement agencies in which the party opposite never addressed.

Too often our law enforcement bodies face intolerable financial risks when pursuing the recovery of ill gotten gains from deep pocketed crooks with expensive lawyers. One minor mistake by the National Crime Agency or the Serious Fraud Office can wipe out a whole year's budget. This has had a chilling effect on the risk appetite of the agencies to tackle those suspected of organised and serious crime which drive so much of the criminality we are debating tonight. Some introducing cost protection, in section 103 of the draft Bill, the government is quite rightly levelling the playing field between the enforcement agencies and those who are charged.

And this will send a powerful message about the rule of law in this country that no matter how rich or well-connected you are, if you are engaged in criminal behaviour, justice will be done. Now we are in a very challenging place when it comes to public finances, and the tax burden bequeathed by the party opposite onto my constituents is already far too high. Which brings me to a specific proposal I would urge the Minister to consider as the bill progresses through this place.

Economic crime costs as around £300 billion every year. Yet less than 1% of police resources are dedicated to tackling it. So why not make the criminals pay? Across governmental economic crime fighting fund would use the reinvested proceeds of regulatory and criminal fines, asset recovery and deferred prosecution agreements to provide sustainable funding and increased firepower for our enforcement agencies capabilities? I hope the Minister will respond to this ask for a sustainable and innovative solution in their windup.

In conclusion, this bill provides a much-needed shakeup for crime and police in this country. It will return our streets and town centres to our constituents and deliver justice where too often it was denied.

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I'm very happy to be able to speak and add my support to this bill, and appreciate the depth and ambition of the measures that have been brought forward. When I meet my local police officers in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, I see a South Gloucestershire, I see a committed group of men and women completely dedicated to public completely dedicated to public service. But I also see their morale
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Damien Egan Portrait Damien Egan MP (Bristol North East, Labour)
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service. But I also see their morale is low. Police numbers in Somerset have full and with a number of PCSOs dropping from 424 in 2010 to 255 today. After 14 years of cuts, officers question if they are appreciated. So to our police, I hope that this bill is seen as a demonstration of the confidence that we have in them and the respect we have for the difficult job they do. I welcome the steps being taken to let police get on with their jobs, including searching premises where phones are geo-located, confiscating illegal road bikes, respect orders as well as lifting the £200 cap when officers investigate shoplifting, and of course the new protections for shopworkers like the women I've for shopworkers like the women I've met working in boots and another shop which are blighted day in day out by shoplifters.

On a different aspect of the bill, we've seen the struggles and confusion in relation to policing public order at protests. protest are a cornerstone of our democracy, but we've seen examples where they become hateful and incite violence. Fines for climbing on war memorials and banning face coverings will help maintain public order. And hope that police know that they have our support to act when they see wrongdoing. As the bill progresses, I'd ask ministers to consider how robust the exemptions are around face coverings in terms of whether they are open to misuse.

For example the health exemptions could have very broad interpretations. Turning to knife crime, officers in my patch certainly welcome the changes, but our concerns about how unscrupulous knife manufacturers could adapt to selling lives that while technically legal still glamorise violence. In the past year, I've got to know a woman called Hayley. And Hayley is the mother of Mikey Boylan from Kingswood, and Mikey was tragically killed at a birthday party when he was stabbed by three young men in June the year before last.

Mikey was a beautiful young man. He was just 16 when he was killed. With ongoing trials of serious violence reduction orders in Thames Valley, West Midlands, Merseyside and Sussex coming to the conclusion this year, Hayley has asked me when a decision will be made on the wider roll-out of serious violence reduction orders. And when will that take place. All these measures will only have the full effect if we have the officers on our streets to police them.

Aidan in Somerset recently received a £27 million uplift in funding. I look forward to seeing this money be used for more recruitment and to support our existing offices. There is much to fix. We all know that, and these measures go a good way in putting the balance of power back towards

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Law & Order. I rise today to express my

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I rise today to express my support for this bill, and particularly to commend the government for bringing forward such government for bringing forward such a robust response to the scourge that these retail crimes that affect that these retail crimes that affect communities across our country, including my own constituents in Banbury, chipping Oldham, Chambery Banbury, chipping Oldham, Chambery and the villages of North and West Yorkshire. In my constituency, shoplifting offences have risen by 25% between March 2022 and March 2024.

This is a deeply concerning trend, not only for shopkeepers but for the local communities that they serve. Shoplifting costs the average
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Sean Woodcock Portrait Sean Woodcock MP (Banbury, Labour)
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convenience store in the UK 6002 and convenience store in the UK 6002 and £59 a year. Now these costs are often passed on to the prices that often passed on to the prices that customers pay in those shops or in the fact that those shops face serious questions about their serious questions about their viability. The importance of financial viability for our local shops is particularly pronounced in shops is particularly pronounced in rural areas. Such as Hook Norton, Enstone, boxing in my constituency where these are not just businesses, they are part of the fabric of the community.

And essential services as well. This bill sends a clear and powerful message. That rising rates of shoplifting will not be tolerated under this government. The removal of the effective immunity for shop thefts under £200 will help deter petty thieves and repeat offenders who have been able to exploit that loophole. By closing the gap, this bill ensures that every crime, no matter how small and seemingly petty, will be taken seriously. The measures outlined in the bill are precisely what shopkeepers in my constituency have been calling for.

Not only does the bill clampdown on shoplifting, but it also introduces a new offence of assaulting retail workers. This provision stands firmly by those who serve our communities day in and day out. Shopworkers deserve to feel safe in their workplace, and this new offence rightly acknowledges the seriousness of the threats and the violence that they face on a daily basis. In conclusion, this is a comprehensive and well considered bill that delivers on this government's promise to make our streets safer and to protect the people who keep our community running.

I commend the Home Secretary and the Minister team and the government for their decisive action that will benefit rural communities and communities up and down the length and breadth of the country, and I urge all honourable

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members to support it. Is a pleasure to speak in support of this bill, which responds to concerns at the forefront of many in concerns at the forefront of many in Leyton & Wanstead. In October, my adjournment debates highlighted the terrible impacts of antisocial terrible impacts of antisocial behaviour in Leytonstone, including Selby Road and the surrounding Selby Road and the surrounding areas. Despite good engagement from police and council leaders, residents still face hotspots of drug injecting, vandalism and abuse in public spaces.

This creates fear and makes families feel their
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Calvin Bailey Portrait Mr Calvin Bailey MP (Leyton and Wanstead, Labour)
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and makes families feel their streets no longer belong to them. The Minister's response was encouraging, committing to respect orders, now in this bill, and I thank her for a visit to Leyton & Wanstead last November. This bill addresses key issues, the new legislation on cuckooing in part two of chapter 24 or tackle homes used for drugtaking, particularly as seen by us in areas like Leytonstone. Respect orders will enhance local initiatives like mandatory drug programs and project adder addressing public drinking in areas like Jubilee Road.

Part three delivers on our pledge to introduce a special offence for assaults on shopworkers and strengthens penalties for shoplifting. Persistent violence shoplifting has taken hold. The staff member at Church Ln, Sainsbury in Leytonstone said each and every day it's going mad, shoplifters roaming around the streets from six in the morning every day, we are losing more than £500. Our safety is on the line. In South Woodford, the Co-op is repeatedly attacked. When a constituent stepped in to help, they were threatened with a glass bottle.

Nearby Boots has faced repeated press with some shoplifters returning for five times a day -- returning for five times a day -- thefts. Staff described concerns children will grow up thinking this is normal. It's not normal. We must ensure our children do not grow up thinking the streets are rare criminal playground. We must acknowledge the role as door played in this issue, but I asked the Minister to provide an answer on how the TSA highlighted the reasonable highlighting the extent of the report facing its members.

I also welcome the measures enabling police to target locations storing stolen goods, which often double as hubs for drug dealing. This bill when the label more effective coordinated police responses, but we must go further. The return of 13.5 thousand police officers is vital, as are our name to police officers. But we must also reduce the high abstraction rates that remove these offices from rates that remove these offices from This is what the people of Leyton and Wanstead deserve and hope the

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government will go further in this regard. I'm proud to support this bill today. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. In my constituency, our five major In my constituency, our five major towns have all been affected in towns have all been affected in different ways by the crimes that this bill seeks to address. Our town centres are the hearts of our centres are the hearts of our community. At their best, they bring people together and create a sense of pride and belonging. When antisocial behaviour, theft, and shoplifting are allowed to take
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Jon Pearce Portrait Jon Pearce MP (High Peak, Labour)
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root, it does not just affect the victims, it affects the whole victims, it affects the whole community. Sadly all too often the community. Sadly all too often the last government wrote these crimes offers low level and left at Unity is feeling powerless. This bill is is feeling powerless. This bill is for all the people I've met on the doorstep and that have come to my surgeries who wanted a government on surgeries who wanted a government on their side, who would take these crimes seriously.

This bill is for crimes seriously. This bill is for retail workers and business owners. Who have to deal with shoplifting day in day out. The last government effectively decriminalised shoplifting of goods below £200. This bill will end the Tory shoplifters Charter and go further by introducing a new criminal offence, to better protect retail workers from assault. This bill is for all those that want our streets to be safer and pride restored to our communities. At the end of February, Derbyshire police had to have a dispersal order put in place for two whole days so they could tackle antisocial behaviour.

This bill extends those powers to 72 hours, and through the new respect orders, this bill sends a clear message to persistent troublemakers. We see you, we are going to disrupt you, we are going to make your life as difficult as you have made the lives of others.

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I am most grateful to my honourable Friend. Does he agree honourable Friend. Does he agree with me that it is good news that at last we have a government which is last we have a government which is doing something about the scourge of off-road lines, dangerous e-scooters on the parks, giving police new on the parks, giving police new powers to seize these vehicles immediately instead of letting the immediately instead of letting the problem continue? In this way they will make the lives of my

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constituents happier and safer. Could I just by way of being helpful, when members make interventions they should address them to the chair not to other members so that there can be no confusion in the debate.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. And thank you for the intervention I thoroughly agree that the new powers thoroughly agree that the new powers will be helpful both in his constituency and my own. This bill is also for our children and the is also for our children and the most vulnerable in our communities. The hottest circle of hell is reserved for anyone that exploits reserved for anyone that exploits and abuses a child. The national and abuses a child. The national inquiry into child sexual abuse was set up by the Conservatives in 2015 set up by the Conservatives in 2015 for it took seven years to complete and cost £200 million.

It made 20 recommendations, and shamefully, the last government did not implement a single one of them. This bill right that wrong. We will introduce a statutory reporting for instances of child sexual abuse, grooming behaviour will be an aggravating factor, and there will be new powers to search for instances of child sexual abuse on digital devices of individuals arriving in the UK. And we will go further. I going off the gangs that seek to exploit children for criminal purposes, it is estimated that 14,000 children are at risk or involved in criminal exploitation, and sadly, some of those victims are in my constituency.

I have heard from police and schools heartbreaking stories of children being forced into drug dealing, of homes being taken over by drug dealers and young lives ruined. These weak laws left to us by the last government but authorities were powerless to act in many cases. Our new laws will make it a criminal offence for adults to use children to commit criminal offences such as drugrunning and organised robbery, and the new offence. The vile gangs that exploits children for criminal gain are the lowest of the low and I will be supporting Derbyshire police to use the full extent of these new laws to drive them out of our communities.

This bill is for women and girls stop for International Women's Day I held a joint event across Derbyshire. An incredible charity was involved that helps to support victims of violence. There is a new service funded by the Labour police crime Commissioner. This bill will strengthen the government response to stalking and give the victims the right to know the identity of online stalkers. Let the message go out to stalkers from here today that there will be no hiding place for you, on our street or online.

To conclude, this bill is for everyone who believes in the rule of law, that there should be zero tolerance for those who threaten our security and our safety, and for those that want to

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take back control of our streets and communities again. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. It is a pleasure to join this debate on the Crime and Policing Bill is on the Crime and Policing Bill is the son of a local bobby full stop my mum worked for 20 years the local police serving a community and I police serving a community and I could not be more proud of her. Her father was also a local bobby and
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Alex Ballinger Portrait Alex Ballinger MP (Halesowen, Labour)
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father was also a local bobby and his father before him. So we have something of reputation my family. Of course I am delighted to see the government recommitment to neighbourhood policing after 14 years of neglect. My mum often spoke about the importance of neighbourhood police officers understanding her community. Who the troublemakers are and how to calm tensions and how to make people feel safe. As I speak to people across my constituency, feeling safe is what they care about those. They don't feel safe in the sea rising knife crime amongst a people or antisocial behaviour on the high street.

And they worry that they never see police on the streets anymore. How we got into this situation is no mystery. Cuts to neighbourhood policing by the last government have left a huge gap in our communities. Before the recent uplift the West Midlands had 700 fewer police officers than we did under the last Labour government in 2010. People in Halesowen want to feel safe in their homes. They want to feel safe on the streets and in their public spaces. They want to trust that the police have the resources, the funding, and support necessary to do their jobs.

Two of my constituents have been in touch to raise the impact antisocial behaviour has had on their lives. Residents have been subject to harassment, intimidation, unchecked antisocial behaviour, felt unsafe in their own homes. The lack of accountability from those responsible left them feeling hopeless and abandoned. This bill takes the essential steps needed to address antisocial behaviour like that received for my constituents will stop the new respect order can be imposed on individuals engaging or threatened to engage in antisocial behaviour.

And importantly breaching a respect order now constitute a criminal offence. For my constituents, this will provide much-needed reassurance that their concerns are being taken seriously. Those who disrupt the police will face real consequences. The deputy Chief Constable who leads on antisocial behaviour for the National Police Chiefs' Council, respect orders will give the police the ability to crack down on those who make our streets and public spaces feel unsafe. These measures are promising but they must go hand in hand with other demands on my constituents.

A visible presence of police officers, and people want to see the local officers regularly patrolling the streets. That is why I'm pleased to see alongside this bill instruction of the neighbourhood policing guarantee. The guarantee will ensure the deployment of an additional 13,000 police officers and PCSOs and Special Constables into neighbourhoods and policing roles. Reinforcing community policing that not only preventing crime but strengthening the response and enhancing trust between the police and the public. In Halesowen we have a dedicated and exemplary police officers,.

Members are excellent but stretched. It is vital to bolster the efforts with the resources and manpower they need to maintain safety and security was the this Crime and Policing Bill is a critical step towards achieving this goal. The people of Halesowen deserve to live without fear, to know the government is steadfast in its commitment. This bill with its focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and reinvigorating neighbourhood policing represents a

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decisive step in the right direction and I'm pleased to support it. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the Crime and I rise to support the Crime and Policing Bill tabled by the government. The last time I addressed this house on matters of addressed this house on matters of policing I shared that the borough I policing I shared that the borough I led in Redbridge once had five police stations. After a decade of Conservative cuts, only one remains Conservative cuts, only one remains standing. This isn't just a statistic or fact, it is a direct reflection on how the party and the opposite benches de-prioritised policing.

And failed to protect our
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Jas Athwal Portrait Jas Athwal MP (Ilford South, Labour)
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residents, friends, and neighbours. When we de-prioritised policing like When we de-prioritised policing like this, we do more than we can at this, we do more than we can at law-enforcement. We allow crime to spiral out of control. We expose our communities to harm and we wrote the very fabric of our society. The very fabric of our society. The Crime and Policing Bill laid before us is a crucial step in reversing us is a crucial step in reversing the 14 years of neglect.

And ensuring tougher consequences for ensuring tougher consequences for criminal behaviour. Whilst this bill tackles a wide range of issues from knife crime to terrorism, today I want to focus on a matter that affects our daily lives, antisocial behaviour. For too long, antisocial behaviour has been treated as low level or even trivial crime. Whether in Ilford South or in the UK across the country, it is anything but trivial. It erodes community trust and often paves the way for more serious criminal activity.

We see antisocial behaviour on the ground littering our streets. We see it in our local shops where retail workers face shoplifters daily full stop and we see it with young girls often in school uniform during harassment from men much older than them. Antisocial behaviour is not just an inconvenience. It is a warning sign. Last year two teenagers stabbed staff members at the tube station for top they were also charged with the robbery incident that had occurred prior to nearby Tesco's.

This is what happens when we turn a blind eye to so-called low-level crime. It escalates opposing even bigger threat to our communities. That is why I welcome this bill. It makes a clear statement that antisocial behaviour will no longer be tolerated. I'm particularly pleased to see the scrapping of the effective immunity shoplifting under £200, and the stronger protections for retail workers from assault. When those workers in our shop supermarkets and local businesses cannot feel safe, when we cannot feel safe doing a weekly shopping, then the system has failed.

By ending this decriminalisation of so-called low-level theft, we are ensuring that our local town centres are protected to thrive. The safety is not just about theft of property. It is about the right to go about our daily lives and walk the streets without fear or intimidation. As leader of Redbridge Council, we took decisive action to make our streets safe for women and girls. We were the first Council to use public protection orders to punish those who were Calling and harassing women and girls.

I'm pleased to see the strengthening of these protection orders in this bill, and the respect orders that will ensure communities across the country have the power to tackle nuisance harassment and intimidation on our streets. Everyone deserves to feel safe. And the homes on our streets and shops and in our schools. This bill begins to deliver this promise into reality. Thank you.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. In common with members across the In common with members across the South this debate is of paramount importance to the people of my importance to the people of my constituency. The Labour government has inherited a shameful legacy from the party opposite who had 14 years to address criminality and antisocial behaviour and instead antisocial behaviour and instead left communities feeling unsafe. The left communities feeling unsafe. The situation in Scotland is frightening similarities with the SNP failing committees across Scotland.

The SNP introduced an under 22 bus pass initiatives and many of my constituents atomic afraid to visit the bus station using the bus services. This is not about demonising people. Young people are more likely to be victims of crime and antisocial behaviour than the perpetrators. But it is wrong to
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Lillian Jones Portrait Lillian Jones MP (Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Labour)
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ignore significant minority who make life a misery for others. Scotland life a misery for others. Scotland badly needs labour to effectively tackle the minorities behaviour that has been intimidating communities has been intimidating communities for far too long. Labour respect for far too long. Labour respect orders will deliver stronger powers for police in Scotland helping them keep communities safe and yet again, Scotland is being let down by the SNP in action. Similarly with a bus SNP in action. Similarly with a bus pass scheme which should be to celebrated but has created a situation where people of all ages are now thinking twice about using the local bus services.

As my friend Anas Sarwar said, under 22 is found to have repeatedly acted violently on buses should have their free bus pass taken from them. This should be obvious. Right should come with responsibilities. And it is shameful that there is currently no mechanism to withdraw a free bus pass for someone abusing it. That needs to It's totally unacceptable to see chronic antisocial behaviour with no action by the SNP. The Crime and Policing Bill demonstrates the labourers on the side of law-abiding people, and I will vote for the bill at the conclusion of this debate.



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Which brings us to the Frontbench contributions.

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contributions. Thank you. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank our brave hard-working police officers, PCSOs, hard-working police officers, PCSOs, police staff and volunteers for the huge sacrifices they make to keep
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Matt Vickers Portrait Matt Vickers MP (Stockton West, Conservative)
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huge sacrifices they make to keep our streets safe. I like to thank all the members, the honourable members across the House for their considered and concise contributions. This bill covers a wide array of offences which we would all welcome. Tackling criminality means equipping the police and enforcement agencies with the powers they need to lock up dangerous perpetrators to make our streets safer. The bill contains meaningful and impactful provisions, meaningful and impactful provisions, particularly in relation to knife crime, car theft, retail crime, the sharing of intimate images, child sexual abuse, drug testing and cuckooing amongst many others.

It's very generous of the government to hold the previous Conservative governments work in such high esteem. In fact around two thirds of the measures in this bill are copied straight from the previous government. As has been said, I think on several occasions, it is a copy and paste job that even the Chancellor would blush over. I wonder thank right honourable members for Braintree and Chingford and Woodford Green alongside many other past and current members of the House for their significant work in ensuring that these offences are included within the scope of the bill.

Work that will ultimately have a positive impact on the lives of all our constituents. Time does not allow me to talk to all the measures in this bill, but I will focus on a few important. I know you were disappointed, but I will focus on a few important provisions. Firstly, let me turn to retail crime. As numbers across this House may know, having served as the chair of the retail APPG and is a former woollies worker, nobody ever questions whether I was old enough though, I've been involved, very involved in the campaign to protect our retail workers have joined the likes of the four Nottingham North, Paul there are from the court, Helen Dickinson and the team at the British retail Consortium, the ACS, as door, numerous retailers and others who have worked to deliver more protection for our retail workers.

Back in 2021, during my slightly rebellious phase, an amendment I laid helped assaulting a public worker into a statutory offence. In April 2024 we saw the last government agreed to protection of a stand-alone offence of assaulting a retail worker. Alongside a suite of measures to tackle retail crime. I'm glad this will be taken up by the incoming my incumbent government, and have an important effect on workers across the country. I have two concerns about the bill regarding retail crime.

Firstly the government's previous plans had proposed to make mandatory for the courts to propose at least a curfew requirement, an exclusion requirement or an electronic monitoring requirement or repeat offenders convicted of shoplifting or the new assault a retail worker offence, and sentenced to a community order or suspended community order or suspended sentence. This had been welcomed by retailers but the bill does not include any revisions to this effect. I don't the government look again at this to ensure we are doing all we can to protect retail workers and avoid what appears to be watering down the potential protections.

Secondly, with regards to the plans to remove the £200 threshold for shoplifting. While the rhetoric of this sounds positive, it's untrue to say that theft under £200 was ever decriminalised. In fact the government's own impact assessment will tell you that 90% of charges for shoplifting actually relate to property that was worth less than £200. And there's a fear that measures will lead to further delays injustice being done whilst not leading to tougher or longer sentences. Victims of retail crime deserves with justice, not year-long delays when perpetrators continue to offend.

Now turning to further legislative slips which I hope honourable members across the House will find difficult to impose. One hugely important measures the introduction of a statutory aggravating factor requiring sentencing courts to treat grooming behaviour as an aggravating factor when considering the seriousness of child sexual offences. This has believes the country should go further and establish a national statutory enquiry, but it's right they brought forward this measure from the Criminal Justice Bill. It recognises the severity of the offence and ensures that parties involved in the heinous practice of these rape gangs face justice and punishment.

We must take every step possible to protect the most vulnerable and ensure stronger laws are in place so that terrible crimes of the past cannot be repeated. Another key measure in the bill is contained in clause 96 200 which To take drug tests on arrest, the expansion of the drug testing on arrival program introduced by the previous Conservative government has orally demonstrated the sheer number of individuals found to be under the influence of substances when arrested. Between March 22 and September 24, police forces reported a total of 154,295 tests the Home Office of these, 86,200 and of these, 86,207 56% were positive for cocaine, opiates or both.

It's right To cover as wide a range of drugs as possible, allowing police to access information they need to manage offenders appropriately within the Criminal Justice Bill. I welcome the efforts to tackle offered by, and having seen the impact my constituents, I hope that during the passage of the bill, we might consider going even further, maybe even considering suggestions made by government backbenchers. We must use this opportunity to make sure police have the powers they need and examine where further powers are required to ensure law truly serves the victims of crime and provides A-level of openness and transparency for our police forces so people can have confidence in our justice system.

Additionally, we should all want to see the police doing what they do best, on the beacon printing and investigating crime. Time should not be wasted on matters that the public does not consider a priority. Time and time again we see reports of police officers sent to respond to incidents that are not criminal in nature. While serious offences on our streets go unchallenged. The measures in this bill to tackle antisocial behaviour signal an understanding that removing crime from our streets must be a priority.

However we must consider whether more could be done legislatively to ensure the police time is used effectively. With this bill, I must stress that all the well-meaning measures contained within their meaningless without a well funded police force. Forces that are currently raising legitimate concerns, some led by Labour, Conservative PCs are raising legitimate concerns about the level of funding they will receive from the government. Any reduction in police numbers undermines every element of this bill. Weakening the ability of the police to tackle crime across the country.

Head of the Metropolitan police has raised his concerns about potential job losses in our capital city. A city where 30% of England and Wales knife crime occurs. I should note at this point that it's very welcome to see the government reintroducing many of the measures on tackling knife crime put forward under the Criminal Justice Bill by the previous Conservative government, including a power to retain and destroy bladed articles on private property, and increasing the maximum penalty the sale of dangerous weapons to under 18's.

Even the financial pressures faced by police forces amounted to an estimated £118 million shortfall, there is real concern that actions will contribute to a decline in police numbers first of the governance police funding increased masks the chance like the Chancellor's national insurance hike on our police forces and their failure to build police pay wards into the baseline. Moving forward we will have ample opportunities as a House to scrutinise this legislation and consider potential improvements. Reading the impact assessments and economic notes accompanied the bill reveals uncertainty about the effects of its various measures.

Notably, there is a lack of clarity regarding the number of individuals expected to be imprisoned certain offences with significant variations in the estimates provided. The government must back our police over the criminals and demonstrate the political will to do so. The government must provide police with the resources and robust powers they need to keep officers on the beat, delivering swift justice for victims and in turn making our streets safer. This bill is a step forward. Across the House we need to support our police officers to tackle the heinous crimes...

Go for it.

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I just want on swift justice, whether the opposition frontbench have moved forward amendments in the have moved forward amendments in the shadow home secretary's position on citizen's arrest? How many

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amendments can be expected see? I think what the Home Secretary was doing in office was putting more police on the streets than ever police on the streets than ever before. More than ever before. And we hope that the benches opposite will maintain that as we move forward, but there's lots of forward, but there's lots of question marks around that. Across the House really does bore police officers to tackle the heinous crimes we've heard about in today's debate.

I hope the government remains open to considering measures proposed by members on this site and that you are committed to robustly tackling the big legislation like prevent.
21:41
Diana Johnson Portrait Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)
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It is an honour and a privilege to wind up the debate on what is, as the Home Secretary set out in her opening speech, a critically important bill. It's critically important for all sorts of reasons. Many of which have been highlighted during the debate. And it has been a very wide-ranging discussion, which is unsurprising, given the scope and the breadth of the bill. There have been many excellent and powerful contributions, particularly I have to say from the government benches.

With over 57 speakers, Backbench speakers in the debate. But there is a thread that binds all the different measures together in this bill. And that is this government's unwavering commitment to the security of our country and the safety of our communities and the people that we all represent. We are on the side of the law-abiding majority, who have had enough of the last 14 years of Conservative governance. This bill will support and progress our Safer Streets Mission, which is integral to the governance Plan for Change.

We are determined to rebuild neighbourhood policing, restore confidence in the Criminal Justice Bill system, and reduce the harm caused by crime. We have already taken action to strengthen the response to threats including knife crime, antisocial behaviour, and violence against women and girls. But to deliver the change the British people want and deserve, we must go further. And this bill will allow us to do that. It is evident from the debate that there is broad cross party support for many of the measures in the bill.

And I have to say it's been helpful to have the insights and experience of honourable members who have previously served as police officers. My honourable friend the Member for Pentel in Clitheroe, my honourable friend the Member for Forest of Dean, and also the very wise words from a former Crown prosecutor who now sits on the government benches. My honourable friend the Member for Amber Valley. Many of my honourable friend's welcomed the commitment to neighbourhood policing and the focus on antisocial behaviour in the bill, the introduction of respect orders, and the new powers for vehicles that are being used for antisocial behaviour.

In fact there's a very long list of those members. My honourable friend is for Telford, Hemel Hempstead, Hyndburn, Stockton North, Chatham and Aylesford, Morecambe and Lonsdale, Ealing Southall, Bracknell, Paul Smith North, Halesowen, Gravesham, Ilford South, Kilmarnock & Loudoun, Erewash, Bournemouth West, Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, Calder Valley, Makerfield, Arch Bruce -- Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and of an author and crew, Hartlepool, Mansfield. They all spoke with great passion about their own constituencies and the effect that antisocial behaviour has had on their communities.

We also heard similarly from many of my honourable friend's who spoke about retail crime and the ending of the shoplifter's charter, and welcomed the introduction of the new offence of to better protect retail workers. We heard from my honourable friend's for Banbury, Derby South, Buckinghamshire and Bletchley, St Helens North, can't even read my writing at this point, my honourable friend Wolverhampton North East. And Also honourable members spoke eloquently in support of new offences to tackle child criminal and, stalking, cuckooing, spiking, and knife crime.

Honourable Friend Warrington South, Stafford, Colchester, Milton Keynes Central, Scarborough and Whitby, Bolton West, Leyton and Wanstead and many others. At this point I would also like to pay tribute to members who have campaigned for some time on issues including the right honourable Member for Chingford and Woodford Green. My honourable friend the member for Rotherham, and my honourable friend for Newport West and Lewin. The measures they have been campaigning on are in the bill. And I also wanted to say to the right honourable gentleman for Chingford and Woodford Green that the issue of dangerous cycling we are looking at and we recognise what a doughty campaigner he is, so we are certainly looking at that in detail.

In the limited time that I have got available this evening, I will focus on a few of the points that were raised through the debate. But clearly the line by line scrutiny of this bill in committee, there will be an opportunity then for all the matters that have been raised this evening to be properly and fully debated. I want to start the questions that the shadow Home Secretary asked. Many asked a number of questions some of which were not a surprise to me in terms of his focus on technology in particular.

In his comments in his opening speech, he seemed to be suffering really from amnesia. About what has happened to policing in particular and crime over the past 14 years. And it is also just worth gently reminding the shadow Home Secretary that in the period from April until June of last year, when his government was still in post and in fact he was the policing minister, the police numbers actually were going down during that period. I just thought I would gently remind him.

Because he is officer needing a bit of help to recall what was going on on his watch. And of course neighbourhood policing was decimated under the previous government. If I just get on some of the specific questions he wanted me to answer, on the question of roughly and nuisance begging, we all agree that this is a complex issue. And we are working closely with the Deputy Prime Minister and her departments to ensure that often vulnerable individuals are appropriately supported, set against our commitments to stand by the police and effectively tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.

As it stands, the Vagrancy Act remains in force and we know many areas of police force also use the ASB powers to tackle antisocial behaviour associated with begging and rough sleeping. He also asked me about the measure that was in the Criminal Justice Bill around compelling offenders to attend sentencing hearings. As announced in the King's Speech in 2024, these measures will be introduced through the forthcoming Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill. I really would like to get on because I think the shadow Home Secretary had quite a lot of time at the beginning of the debate, and I do want to respond to the backbenches who spent many hours in here to make the points.

If I could also just respond to him on a question he asked about the knife scanning technology. The Home Office is still working with industry partners to develop systems that are specifically designed to detect knives concealed in person at a distance. The work is part of that innovations competition at that was launched last year. Phase 1 is expected to be delivered by the end of May resulting in the first prototype systems. On facial recognition, this was mentioned not only by the shadow Home Secretary by a number of honourable members.

Facial recognition technology is an important tool to help the police to identify offenders more quickly and accurately full stop it is showing significant potential to increase police productivity and effectiveness, and could substantially contribute to our Safer Streets Mission. We do need to support the police for making sure they have the clarity especially where there is a balance to strike between ensuring public safety and safeguarding individuals rights. I will be considering the options for this alongside that broader police reforms that will be in the White Paper later in the spring.

In terms of public order, this issue was raised by a number of honourable members particularly the issue around protests. The member for Liverpool Riverside in particular and my member from Bristol North East, and the Liberal Democrat spokesperson all spoke about protests. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of our democracy, and we are fully committed to protecting and preserving that right. However, it is vital that we strike the right balance between the rights to protest and the rights of the wider community.

And I'm sure that we will debate this more fully in committee. It is also worth informing the house that we will be carrying out expedited Post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023, beginning in May. This process will look at how legislation has operated since Coming into force and we will consider the outputs of this review very carefully. The member for Gower asked that I confirm that any amendments to this bill on the subject of abortion would be subject to a Free vote.

All women have access to safe and legal abortions on the NHS including taking early medical abortion bills are eligible. We recognise that this is an actually sensitive issue and there are strongly held views on all sides of the discussion. My honourable friend will understand that whipping on these benches is a matter for the government chief whip. My honourable friend the member for North West Cambridgeshire spoke very knowledgeably about the issue of mandatory reporting. And made reference to particularly religious groups and talked about the Jehovah's Witnesses and asked for a meeting to discuss this further.

I just want to make clear that the purpose of mandatory reporting is obsolete to improve the protection of children. Our aim is to create a culture of support, knowledge, and openness, dealing with child sexual abuse. That is why we consider it more appropriate for those who failed to discharge their duty to face a referral to the disclosure and barring service. And professional regulators where applicable. These bodies can event individuals from working with children potentially losing their livelihood. This is a serious consequence.

The strongest possible sanctions will apply to individuals where deliberate actions have been taken to obstruct a report to be made under the dutiful to anyone who seeks to prevent a reporter from carrying out their duty to report will face the prospect of up to seven years imprisonment. My honourable friends, the members for Gower, Edinburgh North and Leith, and the honourable before Reigate also asked whether the bill could be used to reform our tuition laws. I can assure my honourable Friend and honourable members that the government is committed to tackling the harms and exportation that can be associated with prostitution.

And ensuring that women who wants to leave due to should be given every opportunity to find roots out. The government is closely monitoring new approaches that have been developed in Northern Ireland and parts of mainland Europe. And is working closely with the voluntary and community sector and the police, to ensure that the safeguarding of women remains at the heart of our approach. The issue of the repeal of part four of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 was also raised.

This was around unauthorised encampments. This was raised by my honourable Friend, the member for the City of Durham and Liverpool Riverside. I want to thank the honourable Friend for raising this issue and say that the government is considering the decision of the High Court and will respond in due course. The honourable member for North Antrim also raised questions about the application of certain provisions in the bill to Northern Ireland. I can assure the honourable Member for North Antrim that we are continuing to discuss with the Minister for Justice in Northern Ireland whether further provisions in the bill should apply to Northern Ireland.

That also applies to the comments from the honourable member for Stratford who also raised similar questions. There are questions raised about domestic abuse. I think by the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson and the members for Hazel Grove and Eastbourne. Sorry, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson, the honourable member for Hazel Grove, and the honourable member for Eastbourne. Domestic abuse, as was discussed in the debate, covers a wide range of behaviours. And it is already considered by the court as a factor increasing the seriousness of offending may lead to an increase in sentencing length.

I am sure that the Safeguarding Minister would be very happy to talk to the honourable member about the specific concerns that he raised about the current legislation that is enforced. In conclusion, this is a very wide- ranging and ambitious bill. It has a straightforward purpose, to make our country safer, it will achieve that by restoring neighbourhood policing. By giving law enforcement stronger powers to combat threats that ruin lives and livelihoods. And by rebuilding public confidence in the criminal justice system.

It is clear around the country people want change. They want to feel protected by a visible responsive police service. They want to know that when our laws are broken, justice will be sought and served. And they want to have a sense of security and confidence so they can go about their lives freely and without fear. That is why we have put that Safer Streets Mission at the heart of our Plan for Change. And that is why we have brought forward this bill which I wholeheartedly commend to the

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house. The question is that the bill now

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The question is that the bill now be read a second time. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye". And of of that opinion say, "Aye". And of the contrary, "No". The ayes have it. The ayes have it. Programme it. The ayes have it. Programme motion to be moved formally.

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Moved formally. The question is as on the Order Paper. As many are of that opinion Paper. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye". And of the contrary, "No". The ayes have it. The ayes have it. We now come to motion number three relating to the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.

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I beg to move. The question is as on the Order

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The question is as on the Order Paper. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye". And of the contrary, "No". The ayes have it. The ayes
21:58
Yuan Yang Portrait Petition Yuan Yang MP (Earley and Woodley, Labour)
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have it. Petition. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I rise to present this petition behalf of the residents of Redding and supporters of Reading Football and supporters of Reading Football Club. Over 600 people have signed the paper petition and over 10,000 have signed an online version. Showing the centre feeling from local fan groups wish to keep our club alive. Redding is not the only club to have suffered from ownership problems. In fact many clubs across the country have. Showing the importance of learning from our experiences at Reading.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urged the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and the business and trade select committee to launch an inquiry into the ownership and governance affairs of Reading Football Club. 29 May 2012 on the grounds of public interest with a particular focus on the governance of Reading Football Club since May of Reading Football Club since May The The question The question is The question is that The question is that this The question is that this house The question is that this house do

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now. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I have called this debate today about Owens in Hastings, the short about Owens in Hastings, the short lived family Fun factory whose boarded-up front is a familiar and depressing sight to anyone who has depressing sight to anyone who has walked through our town centre. We are certainly not the only town to are certainly not the only town to experience boarded-up shopfronts have become all too common on high streets around the country. The reason that I'm here speaking about reason that I'm here speaking about this at 10 PM is because of what it has come to symbolise for our community.

Owens has come to symbolise much more than a mere eyesore. Under the Conservative government levelling up plans, it received £150,000 of taxpayers money. At its grand opening it was revealed that the owner behind it was a millionaire who has donated over £2.4 million to the Did he really need a top up from the taxpayer to fund such a venture? Was this truly the best use of the money that was given to Hastings to improve our town? None of this makes any sense to my constituents.

It
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22:01
Helena Dollimore Portrait Helena Dollimore MP (Hastings and Rye, Labour )
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Chernukhin been doing in that time? Chernukhin been doing in that time? The answer is donating vast sums of money to the party opposite. It's a shame that no members of the Conservative Party are here to hear this because they might like to hear that recently, the honourable member that recently, the honourable member with who now sits on the frontbench of the party opposite, accepted a £70,000 donation from her. Clearly she is not struggling for money these days and in the time since these days and in the time since Owens has been closed, just that time alone, she's donated over £150,000 to the party opposite.

I think she should donate the money that she received from the taxpayer back to the people of Hastings. Used well, it could go a very long way to fixing our broken paving stones, broken bus shelters. So Luba Chernukhin, we want our money back. Until the money is repaid in full to our community, the Conservative Party should not be taking a penny in donations from her. Again is a shame that none of them are here, but I will be writing to the Leader of the Opposition, urging her not to take any more donations until this is done.

She said very clearly when she became leader that her party would apologise for the mistakes they've made. So perhaps apologising to the people of my constituency is

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a good place to start. Can I commend the honourable lady

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Can I commend the honourable lady for bringing this forward? One of the things that I see and perhaps the things that I see and perhaps the honourable lady's as well, the the honourable lady's as well, the town deal funding and what government offered gave great government offered gave great opportunities to councils, and I did the same in my council area where we the same in my council area where we developed an evening dining culture, a coffee culture, but it took the council to be the body that made sure that the money was spent where it should be spent.

Does the honourable lady see the good things that come out of the town deal funding, and thereby does she also agree that when we look at the good things, sometimes they are the

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things we should be focusing upon? I thank him for his intervention and his passion about his area and and his passion about his area and improving it. I think it's so true that where money is spent properly in conjunction and collaboration in conjunction and collaboration with the priorities of local people, we see people really feeling a difference in their community. And difference in their community. And that's why it's so frustrating for my constituents when I speak to them, we all know we could have them, we all know we could have spent £150,000 so much better, and that's where this frustration comes that's where this frustration comes from.

We are left with is a boarded-up huge building in the centre of town that we have to walk past and be reminded of that failure every time. The Guardian has also reported that Lubov Chernukhin's involvement in Owens was at least partly funded by a £1.5 million loan from a British Virgin Islands company, Sally got limited. The company was previously owned by her husband, Vladimir, a former deputy Finance Minister in Putin's Russia, and former chairman of a Russian and former chairman of a Russian bank.

In a 2018 court case, she herself said her husband maintained prominent members of the Russian establishment. Is that really the person the Conservative Party want to keep and is that really a suitable donor? There are also serious questions to answer about what you diligence was done under the last government before taxpayer's money was handed out like this. The money was part of the town deal fund under the last government. Plans for spending the money meant to have been scrutinised by a board representative of the local community, but when I've spoken to local businessmen and women that sat on the board, they've told me that they were given very little information about the projects and pressured into signing them off.

One asked repeatedly to see the full business cases but was told they couldn't because of commercial sensitivities. Why did the previous government designed such a process for spending taxpayers money with so little transparency? For us, the taxpayer? Local businesses also can't understand why the decision was taken to subsidise a commercial venture. When they themselves have had to work so hard to get their local businesses off the ground with no help from the taxpayer. A no help from the taxpayer. A consultancy were paid by the town deal board to examine the business case for each project, but no research, analysis or figures have ever been shared.

Did they ever do that due diligence? And all projects were signed off by the then levelling up department. What checks and due diligence were done by officials and by ministers on those projects to ensure that our taxpayers money was being spent wisely? It seems that in the case of so many levelling up projects, proper processes were not followed. If you speak to any charity applying today for public money, they will tell you about all the paperwork they rightly have to go through.

Why was the bar set so low for a venture like Owens? Moving forward is absolutely vital that the same mistakes are not made. We have a brilliant opportunity under this Labour government to breathe life back into our high streets, sort out our empty units and get our local economy moving. I'm really grateful to the Minister, the Labour government's confirmation that Hastings will be part of the 75 towns and £20 million of funding towards this aim over the next decade.

The government has rightly said that should be spent on the priorities of our community. Whether that's broken pavements, broken bus shelters or opening up important community venues like St Mary's the castle. I will be publicly asking my constituents how they think that money should be spent and putting on the pressure for us to spend that money properly. The Labour government is also giving our community important new powers like high-street rental options which will give local leaders the power to take action on properties that have been left vacant for over a year.

Granting local businesses and community groups the right to rent empty commercial lots at market empty commercial lots at market price. Lastly, I'd like to put on record my thanks to the journalists involved in exposing the scandal. It's only because of the work of journalists at local publications like the Hastings independent press and also the Guardian that we actually know what's gone on. Never again should taxpayers money be wasted like this. For this reason, I am also referring the case of Owens to the National Audit Office, and I ask them to investigate.

The lessons way.
22:08
Jim McMahon Portrait Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )
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First of all, and I congratulate the honourable member for securing this evening's very important debate? And can I also thank her for speaking so powerfully on behalf of her constituents? She is a passionate champion for Hastings and is leading the charge to make sure that not a single penny of government investment in the town is wasted. I should say we have a number of things important, Labour cooperative members of this House, also both in Hastings & Rye on 8 September 22 of course when the late Queen had passed away.

And what was very clear path and the profound sense of how important and significant that day was, was Gordon Brown -- was speaking to the constituents and that followed her in the election too. Before attending the main subject of the debate, I'd like to speak about the funding the government is putting into constituents. Last week my department announced up to £21 million of funding and support for Hastings through our new plan for neighbourhoods. This will help build a thriving Hastings, strengthen local community and allow residents to take important decisions and things that affect them.

We also giving Hastings 50 mini pounds of our community regeneration partnerships which will help more affordable housing in the town and fund improvements at the youth club. These investments come on top of the 24.3 These investments come on top of the 24.3 million town deal for Hastings. Our town deals are based on local partnerships and decision- making, and they are led by local town board of which I know the honourable lady is a member of Antonella she champions her area extremely well.

These to see the town deal in Hastings as well into delivering, and it's beginning to deliver results on the ground. Although he her concerns about Owens entertainment centre and have attempted this in more detail now. When the honourable member raised this issue in the House this year, I was very disappointed to learn about the closure of Owens and any money wasted under the previous government. Although the decision to invest in the project was taken by Hastings Borough Council and the town board, goes without saying that is deeply disappointing when projects for three.

I understand the project formed the Debenhams site was due to bring the building back into use and create more leisure facilities and importantly, local jobs. Following the closure and the company responsible for going into administration in October 24, the owner has re-taken possession of the building and the space has been readvertised for lease. I hear the concerns the uncommon banter constituents loud and clear. Regarding her constituents getting rightfully their money back. Although the funding comes from the UK government and the response billeted for local town board management sits with the town board.

And formally, with Hastings Borough Council as the Council body for the town deal. I understand Hastings Borough Council have issued legal letters last year regarding potential action to recover the £150,000 of towns fund which is allocated to CFTC, who ran Owens entertainment centre during this time. Now I will be direct as she was direct. And say that there are plenty of unanswered questions here. What we do know is that the party opposite when they are in government had received £2 million in donations from its owner.

We also know that under their watch, this now closed amusement centre received more than £150,000 of taxpayers money. The simple question we don't yet know the answer to is why? Why this millionaire Tory donor might have needed a top up from the taxpayer to open a bowling alley is that there are concession owners in the dark, ticket holders confused, and importantly, 31 staff members without a job I'm sure would like to know the answer to the question too. I'm also sure they would like to know if the party opposite, given what's now come to light, have any intentions of potentially returning all or part of the donations that they received for the benefit of the local community? Following news that CFTC Ltd have gone into administration in 2024, her case was lodged to recover the money.

My officials will continue to take the situation to our town deal monitoring and regular conversations with the council. On town... On town deals more widely, my colleague the honourable member for Nottingham North and Kimberlin was pleased to offer an extra year, taking the end of the fund to March 2027. We want to see quick results, but colleagues in this House and in councils have reiterated how challenging it's been for projects, especially with cost inflation. This covenant has listened, that's why there is now an extra year of funding to get those projects over the line.

My officials are working with places where it was taken up to make sure the delivery stays on track. Looking at the broader picture, the last government quite places up in knots with their short-term initiatives and funding parts. All with very different rules and different timetables. And far from driving growth, this box down places in bureaucracy, complexity and uncertainty. Moving ahead we will set out a refresher approach local funding at the multi-year Spending Review in the spring and an approach that sympathise funding with less red tape and more like a choice.

This governs define omission is growth, and we are determined that no one is left behind, and together we will work in partnership with local people on the ground and local authorities in Hastings and in

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every part of the country. The question is that this House do now adjourn. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it.
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This debate has concluded
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