Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to (a) ensure young perpetrators of anti-social behaviour are arrested and charged and (b) prevent them from reoffending.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour (ASB), including the civil injunction which can be issued by a court to under 18s.
The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.
Police and local authorities can apply to the courts for a civil injunction to prevent those under 18 from committing further ASB. The civil injunction can also include positive requirements, to address the underlying causes of their behaviour. The court can attach a power of arrest to the civil injunction where there is the use, or threatened use, of violence against other persons or there is a significant risk of harm to other persons from the respondent. If the applicant thinks the respondent has breached a term of the injunction to which a power of arrest has not been attached, they may apply to the court for an arrest warrant.
The Government’s published Plan for Change sets out clear direction on how we will tackle ASB, which includes, by July, ensuring a dedicated lead officer in every force working with communities to develop a local ASB action plan. We are also delivering on our commitment to restore and strengthen neighbourhood policing and as announced in the Police Funding Settlement, we are doubling the funding available to a total of £200 million in 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure police officers have adequate powers to tackle anti-social behaviour committed by people under 18 years old.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour (ASB), including the civil injunction which can be issued by a court to under 18s.
The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.
Police and local authorities can apply to the courts for a civil injunction to prevent those under 18 from committing further ASB. The civil injunction can also include positive requirements, to address the underlying causes of their behaviour. The court can attach a power of arrest to the civil injunction where there is the use, or threatened use, of violence against other persons or there is a significant risk of harm to other persons from the respondent. If the applicant thinks the respondent has breached a term of the injunction to which a power of arrest has not been attached, they may apply to the court for an arrest warrant.
The Government’s published Plan for Change sets out clear direction on how we will tackle ASB, which includes, by July, ensuring a dedicated lead officer in every force working with communities to develop a local ASB action plan. We are also delivering on our commitment to restore and strengthen neighbourhood policing and as announced in the Police Funding Settlement, we are doubling the funding available to a total of £200 million in 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner's request for emergency funding to pay chief constables' salaries.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In 2025-26, Devon and Cornwall Police will receive up to £454.9 million. This is an increase of up to £25.5 million compared to the 2024-25 settlement.
Police and Crime Commissioners whose forces are facing unexpected additional costs may request funding through the Police Special Grant, in line with the published guidance.
Special grant guidance - GOV.UK
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on steps to ensure sustainable funding is provided to local authorities for domestic abuse and sexual violence services.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This Government has set out an ambition to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade and will treat it as the national emergency that it is. We will deliver a cross-government, transformative approach, underpinned by a new VAWG Strategy published later this year.
We are already driving forward activity which supports local government to tackle VAWG. The government has increased funding to local authorities to £160 million for 2025-26, an uplift of £30 million from the previous year, to provide further support in safe accommodation for domestic abuse survivors. The Home Office has confirmed a number of grants held for the next financial year (2025-26) with charities supporting victims of VAWG. We have sought to protect frontline services and give them certainty, so they can plan ahead effectively.
Furthermore, the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 will, once in force, require local policing bodies, local authorities, and integrated care boards to collaborate in relation to the commissioning of certain victim support services, and to prepare and publish a joint commissioning strategy for victims of domestic abuse in their area. This strategy will be informed by a joint needs assessment.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Church of England on its response to allegations of abuse by clergy.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Child sexual abuse is a despicable crime and this new government will be taking robust action to safeguard children, provide support and care to victims and survivors and ensure perpetrators face the full force of the law.
I have not had any specific engagement with the Church of England on this matter to date. However, I am clear that safeguarding of children from abuse is everyone’s responsibility, including the Church.
I have met with Professor Alexis Jay recently and recognise her significant contribution to these important issues, having chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse as well as the more recent independent review into safeguarding in the Church of England.
I will be working with the Home Secretary and ministerial colleagues across government to strengthen the cross-institutional response to identifying and responding to this horrific crime as a matter of urgency.