Police Accountability

Question

Welsh MPs have long called on the UK Government to devolve policing powers. With the establishment of a national police race action plan, is this an opportunity to revisit these calls? Can the Home Secretary confirm whether she will discuss with the First Minister in Wales the devolution of some policing powers?

Question

Given the Home Secretary's statement on community confidence in policing, is she concerned about low levels of trust among black communities? Is there any specific work planned for tackling this issue?

Question

In light of concerns raised by Labour about the accountability review, how does the Home Secretary respond? Is she confident that there will be no further delays in implementing these changes?

Question

With an increasing number of reports of police misconduct against women, is there a specific plan or timeline for addressing these issues? Is there scope for independent reviews of these cases?

Question

What specific measures will be taken to address the concerns raised by police forces about delays and complexity in accountability systems? Are there plans for a clearer framework?

Question

I thank the Home Secretary for advance sight of her statement, and express gratitude for recent briefings. I welcome her proposal to streamline investigations and introduce anonymity provisions for firearms officers facing criminal trials post-shooting incidents. I raise concerns about social media pressures on police and call for continued reform based on the Fairfield review.

Question

I express sympathy for Chris Kaba’s family, acknowledging the distress caused by recent information about him. I highlight past cases where deaths at the hands of police have led to community unrest and riots. Does the Home Secretary agree that such incidents can damage police-community relations if they suggest the police are above the law?

Question

I welcome the Home Secretary’s commitment to pick up the accountability review and acknowledge Baroness Casey's findings on under-protection and over-policing of black Londoners. Will other police forces be involved in the review, and will an independent review of the implementation of the Casey recommendations be commissioned?

Question

Concerned about the comments from the Metropolitan police commissioner regarding disciplinary processes, including potential exemptions for firearms officers from criminal charges after fatal shootings, is less accountability being proposed?

Question

What immediate measures will the Home Secretary take to maintain confidence in the system while long-term reforms are being implemented?

Question

Will the Home Secretary continue to hold the Met police accountable for their progress on the race action plan, which addresses institutional racism?

Question

What additional protections will be introduced to ensure that police officers feel supported while performing their duties?

Question

Will assurances be given that our communities will remain safe and police protections not further enhanced, considering existing disparities in policing?

Question

Sergeant Blake has gone through two years of living hell for simply doing his duty and keeping the British public safe. Will the Home Secretary join us at Reform UK in commending his bravery to send out a clear message to all our brave police officers that this place has their backs?

Question

I pay tribute to the majority of police officers, who go to work and do a decent job. Often, police officers themselves are as disgusted as the general public when misconduct takes place in police forces. Does my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary agree that there is a connection between the delays in police investigations, the delays in the criminal justice system and the delays in misconduct hearings, and that these things have to be taken in the round?

Question

I am sure most fair-minded people will feel that the Home Secretary has got the balance exactly right, particularly as she has now brought in the presumption of anonymity. May I draw her attention to a surprisingly detailed report by the courts correspondent of the Evening Standard? He seems to have had access to police intelligence reports about a £10,000 reward being offered by gangs to identify, and presumably wreak reprisals against, the sergeant concerned.

Question

The balance between ensuring that our police have the powers and tools they need to keep our streets safe and ensuring that they are not above the law is a delicate one. In that light, I welcome the Home Secretary’s statement, and indeed the response of the shadow Home Secretary.

Question

When I first started my work supporting young people in London to get out of crime and gangs, 75% of violent crime in London was committed by people aged under 30 and people in that age group were four times more likely to be victims of crime themselves. For the police to get on top of this, there must be restored confidence between young people and the police.

Question

It is important that such officers remain anonymous until conviction, and I fully back this statement. As the Home Secretary will know, it is not just the officers facing trial who have to go through intimidation and threats, but their families.

Question

First, I put on the record my support and gratitude to all our frontline police officers in the firearms departments for the difficult, challenging and high-pressure work that they do. There is much to commend in your statement, Home Secretary.

Question

Last Saturday in my constituency of Portsmouth North and Paulsgrove, I held a joint coffee morning with the local police to give residents an opportunity to raise concerns directly with officers.

Question

I welcome much of what the Home Secretary has said. The police officers we are talking about, including Martyn Blake, are often deployed to protect local communities from violent criminal gang members.