Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that police officers accused of violence by women are appropriately investigated.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has been clear that police officers must be held to the highest standards and that those who commit acts such as domestic and sexual abuse must be rooted out.
By law, allegations of serious assaults, serious sexual offences or abuse of position by police officers must be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for consideration.
The Government is currently carrying out a review into the process of police officer dismissals which, among other areas, is investigating the consistency of decision making in cases of police-perpetrated violence against women and girls (VAWG). Part 2 of the Angiolini Inquiry will also examine issues in policing such as vetting and recruitment practices and police culture, and the safety of women.
All forces are also currently checking officers and staff against the Police National Database so that they can take action on any intelligence or allegations that require further investigation.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
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 the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' recommendation not to ban the sale and possession of nitrous oxide for recreational use.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) published their report on nitrous oxide on the 6 March, setting out the evidence as it currently stands and made seven recommendations.
The Government will consider the ACMD advice carefully along with any other available evidence, as appropriate, before deciding how to proceed.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Department are taking to tackle anti-social behaviour in coastal communities.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour (ASB) wherever it may take place. We know the serious impact that persistent ASB can have on both individuals and the wider community.
We provided the police, local authorities, and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to ASB through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers depending on the specific circumstances. They are best placed to understand what is driving the behaviour in question, the impact that it is having, and to determine the most appropriate response.
The Home Office published statutory guidance to support local areas to make effective use of these powers. The guidance sets out the importance of focusing on the needs of the victim and the local community, as well as ensuring that the relevant legal tests are met. This guidance was updated in June 2022 to ensure a victim-centred approach to tackling ASB as well as stronger use of the powers and tools in the 2014 Act.
The Home Office announced in March 2022 that ASB would be one of the primary crime and issue types being targeted in the next round of the Safer Streets Fund. This funding goes towards local projects aimed at increasing the safety of public spaces for all with a particular focus on addressing neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and tackling violence against women and girls. At the end of July last year, we announced the outcome of Round Four of the Safer Streets Fund, investing an additional £50 million and supporting 111 projects across England and Wales.
We are on target to recruit the 20,000 additional officers by March 2023, taking us for the first time to over 148,400 officers across England and Wales. This will be the highest number of officers serving communities across England and Wales on record.
As at 31 December 2022, 16,753 additional uplift officers have been recruited in England and Wales through the Police Uplift Programme, 84% of the target of 20,000 additional officers by March 2023.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to help reduce the level of anti-social behaviour in seaside towns.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour (ASB) wherever it may take place. We know the serious impact that persistent ASB can have on both individuals and the wider community.
We provided the police, local authorities, and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to ASB through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers depending on the specific circumstances. They are best placed to understand what is driving the behaviour in question, the impact that it is having, and to determine the most appropriate response.
The Home Office published statutory guidance to support local areas to make effective use of these powers. The guidance sets out the importance of focusing on the needs of the victim and the local community, as well as ensuring that the relevant legal tests are met. This guidance was updated in June 2022 to ensure a victim-centred approach to tackling ASB as well as stronger use of the powers and tools in the 2014 Act.
The Home Office announced in March 2022 that ASB would be one of the primary crime and issue types being targeted in the next round of the Safer Streets Fund. This funding goes towards local projects aimed at increasing the safety of public spaces for all with a particular focus on addressing neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and tackling violence against women and girls. At the end of July last year, we announced the outcome of Round Four of the Safer Streets Fund, investing an additional £50 million and supporting 111 projects across England and Wales.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of the recent announcement by the National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing regarding the findings of The Report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are independent of Government and independently published their response to Bishop James Jones’ report on the experiences of the Hillsborough families on 31 January 2023.
Whilst the timing of the Government’s response has been impacted by the need to avoid risk of prejudice during the Hillsborough criminal proceedings, work has been underway within the relevant departments and organisations to carefully consider and address those points of learning directed at the Government.
The Government has worked closely with police colleagues to consider and address the points of learning for which responsibility spans both government and policing, to improve the systems that are in place to ensure police officers account for their actions.
The Government is committed to engaging with the Hillsborough families prior to publication of its full response in due course.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times her Department has discussed with Sefton Council the potential location of asylum-seeking children and families within that Council's area in the last (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) year.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office has met with Sefton Council on seven occasions, since the first engagement took place in November 2022, to discuss sourcing appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers including asylum seeking families and children. The Home Office regularly engages with local councils across the UK. We are committed to engaging with local authorities and local partners to support successful delivery.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of placing asylum-seeking children and families in local authority areas which are rated inadequate for children’s services on (a) the standard of their education and (b) their human rights.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office, and wider government, work closely with Local Authorities to discuss proposed accommodation sites in their area before any decision being made to use accommodation. We are committed to engaging with Local Authorities and local partners to understand risks, including impact on local services.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) planning requirements of the Pontins site in Southport and (b) powers of Sefton Council to refuse change-of-use applications for that site on the housing of asylum-seeking children and families in Southport constituency.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Whenever the Home Office considers using accommodation for housing asylum seekers we examine the planning requirements to ensure compliance.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with Sefton Council in Multi-Agency Forums on the potential accommodation of asylum-seeking children and families in Southport.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office engages with local authorities across the UK to discuss sourcing appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers. As part of this, the Home Office has held discussions with Sefton Council on opportunities for asylum accommodation located in Sefton Metropolitan area.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of placing asylum-seeking children and families in local authority areas which are rated inadequate for children’s services on their human rights.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office, and wider government, work closely with Local Authorities to discuss proposed accommodation sites in their area before any decision being made to use accommodation. We are committed to engaging with Local Authorities and local partners to understand risks, including impact on local services.