Crime and Policing Bill 2025-03-10

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Does the Secretary of State agree that local police stations should be integral to this plan?

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A report by Harlow council in 2023 stated that fewer than half of residents feel safe going outside after dark. Does the Secretary of State see neighbourhood policing as part of solving this problem?

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The Secretary of State mentioned 13,000 neighbourhood police officers, with 3,000 being new warranted officers and the rest brought back from other places. When will forces find out their share of these officers?

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Of the 13,000 neighbourhood police officers being recruited, 3,000 will be diverted from existing roles. Will this lead to a net increase or decrease in total numbers?

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Will the new neighbourhood police tackle antisocial behaviour in communities like Windhill, Baildon, Cottingley, and Denholme as part of the safer streets mission?

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Does the Secretary of State agree that local shops must become no-go areas for lawbreakers?

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What will the Bill deliver for rural communities?

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Does the Secretary of State agree that this is not just about shoplifting, but also about fear it creates?

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Does the Home Secretary agree that by increasing police powers to seize knives legally owned but used in committing a crime, we will reduce the number of people carrying knives?

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Does the Home Secretary welcome the consultation on potential penalties for tech executives who fail to act responsibly in this important area?

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The MP asked about the legal basis for postponing local elections involving 3.7 million voters, referring to the case of Olly Stephens.

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The MP asked about knife sales online, noting that kitchen knives are involved in a significant number of fatal stabbings. He questioned the measures to reduce access to dangerous knives.

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The MP welcomed the Government’s commitment to a Young Futures programme but questioned whether prevention should be at the centre of tackling knife crime.

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The MP asked if the Home Secretary would look into the issue of pointed kitchen knives, which are involved in many deaths.

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The MP expressed appreciation for clauses affecting Northern Ireland through a legislative consent motion but inquired about future measures.

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The MP questioned the exceptions dating back to 1603 under canon law for confessions relating to treason, particularly in relation to mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse.

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The shadow Home Secretary is making an important point, but does he accept that between 2010 and 2024, the population of the UK increased and so did the complexity of crime? I often meet police officers in my constituency and across Greater Manchester who are stressed out and working very long hours, often covering for other officers. Does he accept that the argument he is making is slightly flawed because the population has increased, the complexity of crime has increased and the amount of time officers spend on tackling crime has changed?

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Does the shadow Home Secretary recognise that the number of reported crimes involving sexual violence went up by 300% under his Government? When he talks about police numbers, would he also like to mention how many police officers left because of conditions in their police force and because of mental health and physical health issues?

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I thank the shadow Home Secretary for giving way. He makes play of the numbers from 2010 and 2024. As a former councillor, I can tell him that the ward I represented in 2010 had a full-time police officer and two full-time PCSOs. When his Government left office in June 2024, the ward had one part-time PCSO and was a third larger. Would he care to apologise to the people of Hartlepool for that disgraceful record?

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Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it increasingly sounds like he is saying that—on police powers, on the measures in this Bill, on police officer numbers and on resources—the voters got it wrong? That sounds incredibly insulting to the public. Frankly, an apology would be better.

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Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?

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The Government’s good work in this Bill in criminalising the possession of knives with intent will be undermined if the police have to wait for someone to take out the knife and commit an attack before they can discover whether they have a knife. Surely, if there is a separate offence arising from mere possession, as my right hon. Friend says, it is particularly important to enable the police to discover that someone possesses that knife before they have had a chance to do harm with it.

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We as a Government are taking very seriously the culture of child grooming and gangs. In your previous role as Minister for crime and policing, could he please explain why not one of those was on child grooming?

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There are a lot of really good things in this Bill that my right hon. Friend has not mentioned, particularly around tackling violence against women and girls, with the legislation on stalking. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we should try to convince the Government to introduce legislation around first cousin marriage—a very serious issue—and include in this legislation some of the sexual offences that relate to that?

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Will the right hon. Member give way?

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Is Lisa Smart saying that climbing on war memorials is acceptable behaviour?

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Supports the Bill which introduces extra neighbourhood police officers and measures to tackle antisocial behaviour. Questions whether PCSOs should also have powers to deal with low-level antisocial behaviour.

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Raises concerns about the effectiveness of criminal justice Bills over time. Recommends tackling mental health issues in young boys to address knife crime. Supports measures against assault on retail workers but questions whether rounding off knives will be effective.

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I want to thank Surrey police for all they do to keep us safe in Reigate and Banstead. I welcome much of what is in the Bill and I will not repeat what has already been said. Instead, I will focus my remarks on what I believe is required to tackle the scourge of commercial sexual exploitation in this country... Although prostitution is legal, pimping, which is the provision of a prostitute to perform a sex act with a customer for gain, is not. There are often tell-tale signs on the adverts, like the same phone number being used for multiple ads, that the women are not acting freely and willingly, and that they are under the control of a pimp, who is profiting from their exploitation... I strongly urge Ministers to take this opportunity to close that loophole.

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When I was serving as a police officer, the demands on policing were changing rapidly... However, at just that time, the Conservatives were busy slashing police budgets. The policing workforce shrank by 20,000 officers across the country... I welcome this Government’s focus on policing, which is vital in creating a fairer country where everyone feels safe and secure in their local community. The Bill signals our commitment to rebuild neighbourhood policing, and to modernise our police service in order to provide the tools required to keep up with changing crime patterns.

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There is much that is good and necessary in the Bill, but clause 90 does not apply to Northern Ireland which deals with desecration of war memorials. Additionally, clause 36 which makes it an offence to possess a child sexual abuse image generator is excluded for Northern Ireland, while other clauses are included.

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Welcomes measures in the Bill that tackle serious crime and antisocial behaviour. Residents have reported issues with off-road bikes blighting streets and intimidating public spaces, and fly-tipping by organised criminals.

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Will the right hon. Lady give way?

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The Bill addresses antisocial behaviour and shoplifting issues in Hemel Hempstead where victims have faced harassment without adequate support from local authorities. Provisions for respect orders will empower police and local authorities to tackle these problems more effectively.

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The Bill includes sentencing guidelines that instruct judges to consider pre-sentence reports if perpetrators belong to certain minority groups, which may result in lesser punishments for these individuals compared to white people, especially white men. This could invite lawyers to help illegal immigrants escape legal consequences.

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According to the Government’s impact assessment, the Bill will provide an additional 13 to 55 prison places, yet the Government expect to see 5,000 additional crimes recorded by the police annually, resulting in 400 prosecutions and 300 convictions per year. Those numbers do not add up, unless the Government intend to continue their policy of releasing prisoners early.

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Figures show that Government funding for the Metropolitan police has fallen by more than £1 billion in real terms since 2010, and those cuts mean that we do not just need more bobbies back; we need more beats. Park police no longer patrol, and now we see the prospect of safer schools officers across London being moved out of schools to back-fill neighbourhood policing teams. Community policing is in tatters, officer numbers are insufficient, and PCSO numbers in London have fallen by more than 3,000 in the last 15 years.

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I believe that the Bill presents an opportunity for the House to tackle commercial sexual exploitation—a key form and engine of violence against women and girls—in giving victims of the sex trade the measures and protections that they need.

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Welcomes measures in the Bill regarding knife crime and shop worker protection but expresses concern over reductions in police numbers, particularly in Avon and Somerset where a former Conservative PCC cut PCSOs by 28%. The MP also discusses antisocial behaviour issues in Taunton's Castle Green area and suggests using public space protection orders to tackle these.

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Highlights commitments made to constituents in Stockton, Billingham and Norton about increasing police numbers, tackling antisocial behaviour on high streets, and introducing a named officer for every neighbourhood. Mentions £2.4 million investment in Cleveland Police under the Labour PCC.

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Supports his colleague's speech about tackling antisocial behaviour in Teesside, noting the need for seizing illegal bikes and making streets safer.

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Welcomes provisions in the Bill addressing shoplifting and antisocial behaviour but criticises previous Conservative Government's reduction of PCSOs by 29% between 2015 and 2022, leading to strained relationships between police and communities.

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Welcoming parts of the Bill, Jim Shannon raised concerns over the decision not to carry out a public inquiry into David Amess’s murder and welcomed provisions on knife crime and child sexual exploitation. He expressed hope that the Bill could lead to further powers for families seeking inquiries into police investigations.

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Welcoming the mandatory reporting provision, Sam Carling raised concerns over whether it fully delivers on the Government’s pledge to implement IICSA recommendations. He highlighted chronic under-reporting issues in religious groups like Jehovah's Witnesses and argued for criminal sanctions for non-compliance.

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Is the Minister willing to meet me to discuss this issue in more depth, and how we can address it? I would also appreciate it if she could comment on the scope of the individuals that the Bill places under a duty to report.

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Does my hon. Friend share my shock that Cumbria police did not hand out a single penalty notice for disorder in 2023? That is down from 1,000 issued in 2010. Does he also share my enthusiasm for this Bill’s measures to introduce respect orders?

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On Saturday, I visited quite a few retailers in Wokingham. There was no police presence at all in the town, despite crime occurring hourly in our shops... Does the hon. Gentleman agree that is not enough?

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The 317 pages of the Bill make satisfying reading for this former Crown prosecutor—satisfying because I know it is packed full of measures that will make the streets safer for my constituents. Amber Valley is a brilliant place to live, but sadly it is not without incidents of antisocial behaviour.

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I speak in full support of the Bill, which is a crucial piece of legislation that will help to deliver on the Government’s safer streets mission. I was incredibly proud to stand on a platform of securing the safety of my constituents.

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I speak in support of the Bill, not just because it is the biggest package of measures on crime and policing for decades, with 50 new laws to cut crime and make our streets safer, but because those new measures will tackle antisocial behaviour, shop theft and street crime head on by giving the police and our communities new powers to take back town and city centres

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The Bill is a step towards tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in communities, including shoplifting and public drug use. However, there are concerns about the impact of such measures on vulnerable individuals.

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The Bill introduces changes to retail crime, such as removing the £200 threshold for shoplifting prosecution. However, there are concerns about how respect orders will be implemented in practice.

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The Bill aims to tackle antisocial behaviour, including misuse of bikes and scooters. However, there is a need for continued support in addressing these issues.

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The Bill addresses knife crime through measures like the Knife Angel campaign. However, there is a need for sustained community engagement to address this issue.

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Ensuring safety and security is a fundamental duty of government. The neglect by previous governments has led to local authorities such as Doncaster city council having to step in, funding additional police and expanding CCTV networks.

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Violence against women and girls increased under the previous Government. Only 2% to 4% of reported rapes made it to trial, and femicides continued to happen without being taken seriously enough.

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Crime and antisocial behaviour increased under the previous Government. Constituents are worried about rising levels of crime such as knife crime, shoplifting, burglary, phone theft, and car theft.

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The Bill presents an opportunity to confront challenges facing communities, protect the most vulnerable, and ensure justice serves everyone.

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The Bill will enhance public space protection orders and introduce respect orders that ban adult offenders from engaging in specific antisocial activities. What additional powers does the Minister envisage for tackling drug-related issues and improving neighbourhood safety?

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In Ealing Southall, the legacy of Conservative policies has led to a decline in neighbourhood policing and an increase in crime. How will this Bill address these issues and ensure that communities feel safer?

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This Bill will be very much welcomed back in my constituency, with this Government introducing 50 new laws that will help to cut crime and make streets safer. I am particularly pleased about measures to tackle antisocial behaviour related to illegal off-road bikes and e-scooters and would like the Minister to update me on progress being made.

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I welcome measures introduced in today’s Bill, which will go further to protect city centres such as Derby from antisocial behaviour and crime. I am pleased that this Bill introduces specific measures to protect retail workers from being attacked or assaulted, including those who are concerned about threats during shoplifting incidents.

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Does the hon. Friend welcome that under Labour effective immunity from shoplifting goods under £200 is ending, introducing a new criminal offence to protect shop workers?

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After 14 years of Conservative Government, antisocial behaviour has become far too common. The Bill will introduce tough new respect orders to ban repeat offenders from antisocial hotspots and scrap the Tory shoplifters’ charter which meant that anyone caught shoplifting goods below £200 could escape prosecution.

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My hon. Friend is doing a great job in explaining some of the new powers that the Bill will give our police, which are an important step in delivering Labour’s safer streets mission.

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The daughter and niece of retired police officers, Amanda Martin thanked Hampshire Police for their work. She cited several examples of antisocial behaviour in her constituency, including shoplifting, vandalism, car theft, e-scooter misuse, and knife crime. The MP emphasised the need for swift action by law enforcement to restore public confidence.

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Supporting the Bill, Phil Brickell highlighted issues such as child sexual abuse, knife crime, and economic crime. He emphasised that previous administrations neglected these areas, allowing fraud cases to spiral out of control.

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Inquiring about youth violence prevention, Natasha Irons asked if there was support for the Young Futures programme aimed at preventing young people from getting involved in crime.

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Discussing morale among local police, Damien Egan mentioned reductions in Avon and Somerset Police numbers. He highlighted the need for better support to let officers get on with their jobs.

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I rise to support the Bill which addresses retail crime across communities, including my constituency. In Banbury, shoplifting has increased by 25% between March 2022 and March 2024, impacting local shops' financial viability, especially in rural areas like Hook Norton, Enstone and Bloxham.

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In Leyton and Wanstead, concerns were raised about antisocial behaviour and drug-related activities. The new legislation on cuckooing will address homes used for drug taking in areas such as Leytonstone. Respect orders will support local initiatives like mandatory drug programmes and addressing public drinking.

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The Bill addresses issues of antisocial behaviour, theft, shoplifting, and the protection of retail workers in High Peak. It introduces a new criminal offence to better protect retail workers from assault.

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Support for the Government's recommitment to neighbourhood policing after 14 years of neglect, highlighting the impact of cuts and local concerns over antisocial behaviour.

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Discussion on the impact of Conservative cuts to police services and welcoming measures in the Bill to tackle antisocial behaviour, including the scrapping of effective immunity for shoplifting under £200.

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Concerns about antisocial behaviour in Scotland due to SNP policies, such as the under-22 bus pass initiative, and support for Labour's respect orders.

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Acknowledgment of contributions from Members on the Crime and Policing Bill, focusing particularly on retail crime measures.

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On swift justice, will the Opposition Front Bench bring forward amendments regarding the shadow Home Secretary’s position on citizen’s arrest? How many amendments can we expect to see about how the police should respond to citizen’s arrests?

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Asked for clarification on the provisions to compel offenders to attend sentencing hearings and knife scanning technology.

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Addressed public order and the issue of protest.

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Discussed public order and the issue of protest.

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Discussed public order and the issue of protest.

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Asked about amendments to the Bill on abortion.

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Spoke about mandatory reporting, particularly religious groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

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Raised questions about unauthorised encampments.

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Asked about the application of certain provisions to Northern Ireland.

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Asked about the application of certain provisions to Northern Ireland.

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Asked about reforming prostitution laws.

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Asked about reforming prostitution laws.

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Discussed domestic abuse.