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Category: Criminal Justice

  • Bob Blackman – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Knife Crime

    Bob Blackman – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Knife Crime

    The parliamentary question asked by Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow East, in the House of Commons on 14 November 2022.

    Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)

    What steps she is taking to tackle knife crime and serious violence.

    The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp)

    The Government have taken a dual approach to tackling serious violence, combining tough enforcement with programmes steering people away from crime. Since 2019, we have invested £170 million in the areas most affected by violence to boost the police response, and we have invested a further £170 million in developing violence reduction units to tackle the root causes of violent crime. These programmes together have been assessed as preventing 49,000 violent offences in their first two years.

    Bob Blackman

    Harrow is, generally speaking, a safe borough in which to live, but we have seen an 18% increase in knife crime this year. There were 41 major incidents last month, and only last week there was a major incident in which three people were stabbed and put into hospital. Does my right hon. Friend agree that what is needed is not just extra police officers, but apprehending people who carry knives, punishing them by taking them to court and imprisoning them so they cannot cause damage to other people?

    Chris Philp

    I agree with my hon. Friend that a robust police response is essential, as is the courts making robust use of the two-strikes rule requiring a mandatory prison sentence on a second conviction for possessing a bladed article. Those are very important, and I am happy to look with him at how they are working and whether they need to be pushed a bit further. I am sorry to hear about the knife crime statistics in Harrow. Nationwide, knife crime, or knife-enabled crime, is down about 9% compared with pre-pandemic levels. If my hon. Friend feels that more needs to be done in his area, I would be happy to discuss it with him.

  • Chris Philp – 2022 Comments on the Impact of Policing the Just Stop Oil Protests

    Chris Philp – 2022 Comments on the Impact of Policing the Just Stop Oil Protests

    The comments made by Chris Philp, the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, in the House of Commons on 14 November 2022.

    I share the hon. Gentleman’s concern about the level of abstraction owing to the unjustified Just Stop Oil protests. In October and early November, about 11,000 Metropolitan police officer shifts were lost as a result of having to police those outrageous and unnecessary protests. That is a matter of concern, and that is why it is so important that we see an end to these protests as soon as possible.

  • Helen Hayes – 2022 Parliamentary Question on PCSOs

    Helen Hayes – 2022 Parliamentary Question on PCSOs

    The parliamentary question asked by Helen Hayes, the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, in the House of Commons on 14 November 2022.

    What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of police community support officers in tackling neighbourhood crime.

    The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp)

    The Government are determined to reduce neighbourhood crime, and I am pleased to report that, since 2019, neighbourhood crime has reduced by about 20%. It is up to chief constables to decide on the level of PCSOs that they choose to recruit, but as the House will be aware, we are in the process of hiring an extra 20,000 police officers, after which we will have a record number of uniformed officers serving.

    Helen Hayes

    Police community support officers have a vital role to play in tackling neighbourhood crime and building trust and confidence in policing at a community level, because they are often the most visible officers to our communities. Will the Minister therefore confirm how many fewer officers are assigned to neighbourhood roles in England and Wales today compared with 2010? How long does he expect it to take until police officer and staff numbers in neighbourhood roles reach the same number again?

    Chris Philp

    I can confirm that neighbourhood crime is about 20% lower than in 2019, as I said a moment ago. I can confirm that after the 20,000 officers have been recruited in April next year, we will have a record number of uniformed officers serving in this country. I can also confirm that the Metropolitan police area, which includes the hon. Lady’s constituency, the shadow Policing Minister’s constituency and my own, already has a record number of uniformed officers.

  • Jonathan Edwards – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Pay for New Police Officers

    Jonathan Edwards – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Pay for New Police Officers

    The parliamentary question asked by Jonathan Edwards, the Plaid Cymru MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, in the House of Commons on 14 November 2022.

    What discussions she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) relevant stakeholders on the adequacy of entry pay rates for new police officers.

    The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Suella Braverman)

    The independent Police Remuneration Review Body makes recommendations to the Government on the pay and allowances for police officers. In July, we announced that we had accepted the review body’s recommendation to award a consolidated increase of £1,900 at all pay points with effect from 1 September, targeted at the lowest-paid to provide an uplift of up to 8.8%.

    Jonathan Edwards

    Police officers inform me that they have faced a 20% real-terms pay cut over the past decade, and there seems to be a particular problem with new recruits. My local federation tells me that some of its officers are using food banks and that a potential new recruit decided to continue his career with a fast food chain because he had been offered a pay rise. Does the Secretary of State admit that pay and remuneration for police officers—professionals who put their lives in danger on our behalf—is a real problem?

    Suella Braverman

    The Government recognise that increases in the cost of living are having a significant impact on the lower-paid. In that context, and after careful consideration, we chose to accept in full the review body’s recommendations to award the consolidated increases that I mentioned. We want to ensure that there is support for our officers, who play a vital role in this country.

  • Iain Stewart – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Operation Deter

    Iain Stewart – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Operation Deter

    The parliamentary question asked by Iain Stewart, the Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, in the House of Commons on 14 November 2022.

    What recent discussions she has had with the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police on the effectiveness of Operation Deter.

    The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Suella Braverman)

    Before I answer, on behalf of the UK may I pass on my thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the terrible attack in Istanbul yesterday? I am sure that the whole House will join me, on behalf of the UK Government, in saying that the UK stands with Turkey in the fight against terrorism. We send our condolences to all those affected.

    Last month, I visited Thames Valley police to meet the chief constable, force leaders and student officers. A number of topics were discussed, including the delivery of Operation Deter. I am always keen to discuss interventions that the chief constable and local partners believe to be effective in reducing knife crime.

    Iain Stewart

    The police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, introduced Operation Deter as a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime. It started in Milton Keynes and is now being rolled out in the force in other areas. It is already delivering some very encouraging signs in reducing knife crime. Will my right hon. Friend review it further and encourage other forces to replicate it in their areas?

    Suella Braverman

    I have met the excellent police and crime commissioner, to whom my hon. Friend refers, on two occasions now—perhaps more—and I really welcome all initiatives that show measurable impacts against violent crime. I am determined that interventions that are proven to work are delivered across our forces. I am also a big supporter of violence reduction units. I am very keen to look at the verified results of Operation Deter, alongside all innovative approaches. I am clear that all options should be explored and that we should support operations that work.

  • Jamie Greene – 2022 Statement on Arson Attack on Edinburgh War Memorial

    Jamie Greene – 2022 Statement on Arson Attack on Edinburgh War Memorial

    The statement made by Jamie Greene, the Conservative MSP for West Scotland, on Twitter on 14 November 2022.

    This is a disgusting and disrespectful attack on the war memorial at Edinburgh City Chambers – those responsible are the lowest of the low.

    If you have any information, please get in touch with the police on 101.

  • Nicola Sturgeon – 2022 Statement on Arson Attack on Edinburgh War Memorial

    Nicola Sturgeon – 2022 Statement on Arson Attack on Edinburgh War Memorial

    The statement made by Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, on Twitter on 14 November 2022.

    Utterly beyond comprehension that someone would vandalise a war memorial on Remembrance Day – sickening and disgraceful. I hope those responsible are identified and brought to justice.

  • Roz McCall – 2022 Statement on Arson Attack on Edinburgh War Memorial

    Roz McCall – 2022 Statement on Arson Attack on Edinburgh War Memorial

    The statement made by Roz McCall, the Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, on Twitter on 14 November 2022.

    This is appalling and vile. I hope that the culprits are caught and made to face up to the disrespect they have shown to everyone who has served or lost a loved one due to conflict.

  • Meghan Gallacher – 2022 Statement on Arson Attack on Edinburgh War Memorial

    Meghan Gallacher – 2022 Statement on Arson Attack on Edinburgh War Memorial

    The statement made by Meghan Gallacher, the Deputy Leader of Scottish Conservatives, on Twitter on 14 November 2022.

    Disrespectful. Disgusting. Vile. Just a day after Remembrance Services took place and our country fell silent, Edinburgh City Chambers war memorial was set on fire. This is one of the many reasons I am bringing a Bill forward to better protect war memorials.

  • Suella Braverman – 2022 Comments on Reducing Number of Asylum Seekers Crossing English Channel

    Suella Braverman – 2022 Comments on Reducing Number of Asylum Seekers Crossing English Channel

    The comments made by Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, on 14 November 2022.

    We must do everything we can to stop people making these dangerous journeys and crack down on the criminal gangs. This is a global challenge requiring global solutions, and it is in the interests of both the UK and French governments to work together to solve this complex problem.

    There are no quick fixes, but this new arrangement will mean we can significantly increase the number of French gendarmes patrolling the beaches in northern France and ensure UK and French officers are working hand in hand to stop the people smugglers.