Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to publish its response to the recommendations of the independent review into the application of sharia law in England and Wales.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
On 1 February 2018 the Government published the independent Sharia review and confirmed it would not be taking forward the recommendation to regulate Sharia Councils in a Written Ministerial Statement.
The Government’s commitments in response to the review can be found in the Integrated Communities Strategy green paper, published on 14 March 2018 and available on gov.uk:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/integrated-communities-strategy-green-paper.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has plans to prohibit the use of sound-producing anti-loitering devices without a licence.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The safety of anti-loitering devices is already regulated under the General Product Safety Regulation 2005 (GPSR). This requires all products intended for or likely to be used by consumers to be safe for normal or reasonably foreseeable use.
It is for local agencies dealing with anti-social behaviour to determine how to best tackle issues in their area, and to ensure any devices they use comply with the relevant legislation.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to make elder abuse an aggravated offence.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Ministry of Justice has asked the Law Commission to carry out an independent review into hate crime legislation to consider whether existing legislation is consistent and effective. This will include whether crimes motivated by, or demonstrating hatred of older people or other potential protected characteristics should be hate crimes.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps he has taken to tackle anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible powers that they can use to tackle anti-social behaviour. It is for local agencies to decide when it is appropriate to make use of these powers.
On 24 December 2017, the Home Office published refreshed statutory guidance on the use of the statutory powers to assist local agencies in addressing anti-social behaviour.