Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Local Policing

07 September 2021 · 0 other contributors

Opened by Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Policing & Resources

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Andrew Bowie raised concerns about local policing in the House of Commons. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Andrew Bowie highlighted the critical role of local policing in Scotland, noting a reduction in beat bobbies and station closures since 2017.
  • Kit Malthouse acknowledged the importance of Police Scotland in UK policing, noting that operational decisions remain with chief constables.
  • The Minister commended the hon. Member for raising concerns and praised the government's commitment to recruit 20,000 more officers in England and Wales.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Andrew Bowie highlighted the critical role of local policing in Scotland, emphasising the importance of police presence within communities to maintain public safety. He noted a significant reduction in beat bobbies since 2017 and expressed concerns over station closures across Aberdeenshire, leading to increased crime rates despite diligent work by individual officers. Andrew urged for imaginative solutions to improve community policing rather than just focusing on budgetary decisions.

Government Response

Kit Malthouse

Kit Malthouse commended the hon. Member for raising his constituents' concerns and acknowledged the critical role of Police Scotland in UK policing, despite governance being devolved. He emphasised that operational decisions remain with chief constables but urged collaboration to ensure strong police presence on streets. The Minister highlighted the government's commitment to recruit 20,000 more officers across England and Wales and praised cross-border operations like Operation Venetic for tackling crime effectively. Malthouse encouraged closer engagement between MPs, their constituents, and local policing authorities to address concerns regarding station closures and resource allocation.

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