Policing and Crime

Lindsay Hoyle Speaker

Chorley

I inform the House that I have selected the amendment in the name of the Prime Minister.

Diane Abbott Ind

Hackney North and Stoke Newington

Since 2010, police officer numbers have been reduced by almost 21,000; violent crime has risen to record levels; youth services have been decimated; prosecution rates have fallen sharply. Labour calls for recruitment of 2,000 more frontline officers and re-establishment of neighbourhood policing. Ministers should use best endeavours to ensure safety and security instead of dog-whistle rhetoric on law and order.

Karen Buck Lab

Westminster North

The public value safer neighbourhood policing above almost everything else, regretting the reduction in police presence from 30 officers down to seven in certain areas, affecting community relations.

Tan Dhesi Lab

Slough

Violent crime, particularly knife crime, is at a record high due to massive cuts to youth centres and the police force. The public demands an end to austerity measures that are decimating communities.

Stephen Doughty Lab Co-op

Cardiff South and Penarth

Welsh Labour has kept and funded PCSOs in Wales, making a huge difference despite cuts. This evidence-based policing policy is contrasted with the UK Government's approach.

Emma Hardy Lab

Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

Acknowledges the work of Labour police and crime commissioner Keith Hunter and Hull City Council in tackling city centre crime by creating a crime hub and working with businesses, highlighting the need for local government action.

Kit Malthouse Con

North West Hampshire

Mr. Malthouse emphasises the need to tackle serious violence, particularly knife crime, through a comprehensive approach involving focused interventions and preventive measures. He also highlights the importance of police funding, stating that it is not just about material resources but sending a clear message of support to police forces.

Matt Western Lab

Warwick and Leamington

Mr. Western raises concerns about the exportation of drug lines from cities to towns such as Warwick and Leamington, leading to increased violence in these areas. He urges for a focus on intelligence gathering at the street level.

Stephen Doughty Lab Co-op

Cardiff South and Penarth

Mr. Doughty expresses concern over YouTube's refusal to remove videos glamorising knife violence, calling it an issue that needs immediate attention from the government and social media platforms.

Liz Saville-Roberts PC

Dwyfor Meirionnydd

Ms. Saville-Roberts highlights her concern regarding the lack of additional funding for Cardiff, a capital city, to combat crime compared to other UK capitals.

Yvette Cooper Lab

Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley

Ms. Cooper questions the drop in the number of cases reaching charge or summons and expresses concern about the decline in justice and crime resolution rates.

Neil Coyle Lab

Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Mr. Coyle asks for the return of police officers to Southwark, which has lost more than 400 officers since 2010.

Gary Sambrook

Mr. Sambrook emphasises the need for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to focus on fighting crime rather than non-policing activities, highlighting an example of a PCC in the west midlands focusing more on train delays.

Nickie Aiken

Ms. Aiken urges for more trust and flexibility from the Mayor of London towards local authorities regarding violence reduction units' funding, allowing local councils to better utilise funds to address crime locally.

Ben Bradley

We have heard a lot about police cuts from the Opposition over the last half hour or so. I wonder whether my hon. Friend can help me to fathom what they are saying. If I remember rightly, just a few years ago the predecessor of the right hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) was sitting on the Opposition Front Bench talking about his plans to cut our police funding by 10%. The right hon. Lady said in her speech that she had always appreciated the need for funding and recruitment.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

The Minister will know that one particular area of crime that is on the rise is crime against retail workers. They face increasing threats of violence, many involving a knife and many, sadly, involving guns, particularly where age-restricted products are involved. Is he yet convinced of the need, as we are on the Opposition Benches, for specific offences to make it easier to take action against those offenders?

Tim Loughton

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. He is being exceedingly generous in promoting a debate, in stark contrast to what we heard from the Opposition Benches. He is right to say that police numbers are welcome but not the be all and end all. It is appropriate that the police have the right kit and the right powers to pursue criminals.

Joanna Cherry SNP

I should like to start by congratulating Her Majesty’s Opposition on securing this Opposition day debate on such an important topic. I am particularly pleased about it, as it gives me an opportunity to talk about the good news story for policing and tackling crime in Scotland. We often hear the allegation from the Government Benches that there are major problems with domestic policy in Scotland, but when we examine the evidence, we see that that is not the case.

Liz Saville-Roberts PC

Dwyfor Meirionnydd

I hope that my hon. and learned Friend will join me in welcoming the report of the Commission on Justice in Wales, which was commissioned by the Welsh Labour Government. It draws attention to the fact that there is a jagged edge in relation to devolution in Wales, where criminal justice is reserved despite the fact that many of the services that underpin it are devolved.

Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem

North East Fife

I acknowledge what the hon. and learned Member says in relation to Rape Crisis and serious crime and in relation to Police Scotland, but does she acknowledge that moving to a single police force in Scotland has taken away the third leg of the stool in terms of local accountability, meaning that the police force is now a much more politicised institution than it was prior to unification.

Kit Malthouse Con

North West Hampshire

The hon. and learned Lady would not want to mislead the House—I will not put it as strongly as that—but while she refers to the 2007 figures, the numbers that I have suggest that the number at quarter 4 in 2019 was actually below that in 2009, so she is neatly avoiding the high point in her maths, illustrating the fact that police officer numbers in Scotland have been broadly flat for a decade.

Danny Kruger Reform

East Wiltshire

I rise for the first time in this place as the hon. Member for Devizes and as the successor to my friend Claire Perry O’Neill, praising her work on faster trains through Pewsey and Bedwyn, superfast broadband in small communities, and a new health centre in Devizes. I am committed to continuing her legacy by seeing these projects through. As the MP of an ancient heartland with significant heritage sites like Silbury Hill and Avebury, my constituency also houses a large part of the British Army, including regiments recently returned from Germany. We face deep social challenges, requiring better funding for health, education, police, rural transport, and a new deal for farmers in a globalized world. Brexit is not just about economic freedom but also reflects people's attachment to their local places. I support investing in infrastructure and emphasise the importance of social infrastructure—charities, civil society organisations, and social enterprises—in tackling crime and other social issues. We need reforms to empower local communities, directors to think beyond quarterly profits, and politics that give power back to the people. Our identity as individuals and a community should be rooted in values derived from our cultural heritage.

Jo Stevens Lab

Cardiff East

Welcomed the debate, acknowledging support for prisoner rehabilitation. Stressed the underfunding and understaffing of South Wales police due to austerity cuts since 2010. Criticised recent recruitment funding as insufficient given Cardiff's rapid population growth. Highlighted the burden on policing major events in Cardiff, leading to financial contributions from constituents. Cited rising crime rates, including violent crimes, drug offences, and domestic abuse, calling for urgent measures like safe drug consumption rooms. Emphasised constituent concerns about community safety and neighbourhood policing.

Suella Braverman Con

Fareham

Congratulates her colleague on a speech made in the best traditions of the House, emphasising the importance of increased police presence in Fareham and across Britain. She highlights local issues such as burglaries and vandalism that concern residents, while also noting an overall reduction in crime rates thanks to diligent policing efforts. Mentions specific successes like dawn raids against ATM explosions and drug busts. Applauds investments such as a new police investigation centre in Portsmouth and the substantial funding for Hampshire Constabulary, which she claims will lead to more police officers and further reductions in crime.

Christine Jardine Lib Dem

Edinburgh West

Responds by highlighting an increase in knife crime across certain parts of the country, questioning whether government proposals are sufficient to meet current policing needs. Suggests that a more comprehensive approach is required to address issues such as health and education to prevent crime.

Allan Dorans Lab

Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

Mr. Dorans is honoured to make his maiden speech in the House of Commons as the representative for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock. He acknowledges his campaign team's effort and the 20,272 voters who supported him. He highlights the diverse economic landscape of his constituency, including rural and coastal communities, rich farmland, food and drink industries, manufacturing base, and tourist facilities. Mr. Dorans also pays tribute to his predecessor Bill Grant and shares a personal experience as a former police officer which underscores the importance of mental health services for effective policing. He raises concerns over the Prime Minister's promise to increase police numbers by 20,000 within three years, noting that recruitment needs would be closer to 46,000 considering retirements. Mr. Dorans also discusses the plight of WASPI women who have been denied their expected retirement due to pension changes, urging the Government to address this issue urgently.

Ben Bradley Con

Mansfield

Paid tribute to new Members and welcomed Government actions on policing, including £15.2 billion funding package, police covenant, recruitment drive for additional officers, crackdown on serious violence, proper sentencing, and support for mental health of police. Noted concerns about graduate requirement for recruitment, internal investigations dragging on, drug classification review, Taser use in communities.

Brendan Clarke-Smith Con

Bassetlaw

Called for automatic early release of violent offenders to be ended, urging the Government and Opposition to support this measure following a tragic death in his constituency due to violent crime.

Holly Lynch Lab Co-op

Hamtramck

It is an opportune moment to be having this debate. The speaker welcomes some of the Government's recent decisions, such as a significant uplift in spending on policing and creation of a police covenant; however, she also highlights that 21,000 police officers have been lost since 2010, and 600 police stations closed across England and Wales. She emphasises the importance of protecting emergency workers from assault and the need for legislative changes to address spitting on police officers and providing blood tests in such incidents. The speaker also raises concerns about recruitment and retention in police leadership roles due to pension issues.

Seema Malhotra Lab Co-op

Feltham and Heston

My hon. Friend is making an important point about the closure of police stations, which we have also seen in Hounslow. Such closures contribute to the feeling of greater distance between the police and our communities. She agrees that this is part of the reason why there has been a reduction in people’s confidence in the police, both in terms of dealing with crimes and achieving detection rates.

Mark Fletcher Con

Bolsover

The Government's first priority is to protect the public, and they have welcomed the recruitment of 20,000 new police officers. Fletcher emphasises that crime affects working-class communities in various ways, such as antisocial behaviour and burglaries. He commends the Home Secretary for visiting Clowne during the election to listen to residents' concerns about antisocial behaviour. Fletcher calls for greater powers for police and crime commissioners and suggests involving councillors and parish councillors more in identifying individuals causing problems. The Government are committed to a properly funded police force with necessary physical and legislative powers.

Vicky Foxcroft Lab

Lewisham North

Foxcroft expresses disappointment over the cancellation of the “Victoria Derbyshire” show, which has been instrumental in tackling youth violence. She highlights that under the current Government, knife crime is at its highest level and shows no sign of decreasing due to cuts to policing under austerity measures. Foxcroft urges for community police officers to ensure people feel safe and trust the police again. Increases in police funding alone are not sufficient; tackling root causes such as early intervention and a consistent long-term public health approach are crucial. She advocates for sustained political backing and stable, long-term funding to address youth violence effectively.

Ben Everitt Con

Milton Keynes South

Mr. Everitt discusses the challenges of knife crime in his constituency, noting that there have been four murders involving knives in Milton Keys in ten weeks. He emphasises the importance of proactive policing and intelligence-led approaches to tackle gangs. The local police area commander was briefed on how additional funding is being used for diversionary activities aimed at young people. Mr. Everitt supports tough measures such as stop-and-search, highlighting its effectiveness in removing knives from streets and deterring their use. He also mentions the deployment of 183 extra police officers to his local force, with 36 specifically allocated to Milton Keys. The speaker stresses the importance of reassurance for communities feeling unsafe following crimes and supports the intelligence-led approach for tackling rural crime as well.

Jessica Morden Lab

Newport East

The Government's announcement on police funding is insufficient and unclear for the next financial year. The debate highlights significant cuts to police forces since 2010, with Gwent seeing its budget slashed by 40% in real terms over a decade. While welcoming new recruitments under Operation Uplift, Morden argues that it does not make up for the loss of officers and civilian staff. She questions how these additional officers will be funded beyond the initial three years, raising concerns about potential increased council tax burdens. Additionally, she criticises the lack of clarity around the apprenticeship levy for Welsh forces and highlights the strain on existing officers due to reduced support departments. Morden also stresses the importance of investment in educational and diversionary activities to prevent crime and supports funding at a national level for early intervention programmes.

Alicia Kearns Con

Rutland and Stamford

Welcomed the £14.1 million funding for Leicestershire police and the 89 new officers planned to come to their force, praising measures brought in since 2010 to support victims of crime. Highlighted rural isolation issues exacerbated by rural crime, slower emergency response times, and economic impacts. Discussed the need for tracking organised crime networks responsible for equipment thefts from farmers, tougher sentencing for fly-tipping, and increased commitment from the police and crime commissioner towards rural communities. Emphasised the significance of combating organised crime, county lines activity, trafficking, and extremist groups. Praised counter-terrorism measures and proposed extending minimum sentences beyond 14 years for serious terrorist offences. Supported ongoing management of former extremists but raised concerns about lifelong vulnerability post-release. Praised the Prevent programme's work on far-right extremism and takfiri Salafist extremism. Raised issues around prison officer safety, advocating against concurrent sentencing for attackers. Called for continued investment in counter-terrorism while not forgetting rural communities or forgotten crimes like those affecting prison officers.

Sarah Champion Lab

Rotherham

She raised concerns about the historical failings in police forces such as South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, where operations to disrupt grooming gangs were dropped due to insufficient resources or incorrect categorization of victims. She stressed the need for transparency and accountability within these organisations.

Seema Malhotra Lab Co-op

Feltham and Heston

The hon. Member paid tribute to Sarah Champion's work in Rotherham, acknowledging the complex nature of child exploitation issues and urging for more comprehensive resources to address such crimes.

Gary Sambrook Con

Birmingham Northfield

The election focused on getting Brexit done to focus on NHS, education, and crime. The Government is providing £1.1 billion extra for policing with a 366 new officers in the west midlands force. West Midlands Police will receive up to £620 million including fighting organised crime (£150m), serious crime (£190m) and county lines (£20m). The Government is investing an additional £90 million for counter-terrorism, taking the budget to just shy of £1 billion. An extra £35 million will be provided to reduce knife crime, with a total of £100 million allocated to tackle violent crime. Emphasises need for youth centres and mobile facilities as part of the youth investment fund.

Ruth Cadbury Lab

Brentford and Isleworth

Ms. Cadbury highlights the rise in knife crime and youth involvement in her constituency, citing specific incidents such as a tragic stabbing death and increased hospital admissions for knife injuries. She notes that police presence has been halved due to budget cuts, leading to fewer reported crimes being resolved. Young people are scared of becoming victims and resort to carrying knives out of fear or enticed by drug gangs through various tactics like offering food, shelter, or cash. Ms. Cadbury emphasises the loss of public services including welfare support in schools and youth services due to funding cuts. She praises some positive initiatives such as community police officers and violence prevention work but stresses that these are insufficient without adequate resource support. She advocates for a wraparound public health approach supported by various qualified staff, urging the government to invest more in effective solutions.

Dehenna Davison Con

Bishop Auckland

The hon. Member praised the contributions of other MPs and emphasised the need for tough action against crime, particularly antisocial behaviour. She highlighted the support her family received from police officers and expressed residents' desire to tackle issues such as shattered bus windows in Spennymoor with air rifles being suspected weapons. The MP mentioned the Blue Collar Conservative group's stance on common-sense policies against crime. She also discussed the increase of 68 additional police officers for County Durham, expressing hope that some would be deployed to hotspots like Spennymoor and Teesdale. Criticising Labour Members for demanding more funding without transparency, she argued that the Government has brought public finances under control and is investing sustainably in services. She emphasised the importance of making existing police officers feel valued through initiatives such as the police covenant and allowing special constables full benefits from the Police Federation.

Thangam Debbonaire Lab

Bristol West

Ms Debbonaire criticised the Conservative Party's approach to austerity, highlighting the negative consequences of budget cuts on policing and public safety in her constituency. She pointed out that despite the Prime Minister’s recent announcement about increasing police numbers, the reality for Avon and Somerset is a net loss of 700 officers over ten years with only 403 new officers planned over three years. She also noted an increase in crime rates, specifically mentioning knife crimes in Bristol which rose by 11% compared to the previous year. Additionally, she emphasised the long-term impact of cuts on youth services, drug treatment facilities, mental health provision, and other critical social support systems. She advocated for a more preventive approach to tackling violent and knife crime through enhanced funding for youth services, schools' intervention programmes, and sustainable local authority budgets.

Dean Russell Con

Watford

Mr Russell discussed crime issues in Watford, noting a recent spate of burglaries and county lines drug-related crimes. He emphasised the need to balance tough enforcement with support for those caught up in criminal activity. Recalling his own experiences working night shifts at an airport car park, he stressed the importance of police as deterrents and community role models. Mr Russell called on the Government to ensure the 20,000 additional officers are deployed as community police officers to enhance public safety.

Gerald Jones Lab

Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare

Mr Jones welcomed any increase in police funding but highlighted that since 2010, there has been a loss of 20,000 police officers alongside PCSOs and support staff. He noted the negative impact on communities across his constituency and Wales, with South Wales police down by 161 officers and Gwent police down by 129 officers compared to 2010 levels even after planned recruitment. Mr Jones pointed out significant cuts in funding for youth services (70% since 2010) and youth offending teams (funding halved), which contributed to a rise in knife offences. He called on the Government to fill the funding gap and provide additional officers, stressing the importance of community policing.

Louise Haigh Lab

Sheffield Heeley

The debate has featured excellent contributions, including two maiden speeches. The speaker highlighted the importance of neighbourhood policing and praised several Members for their supportive remarks on police staff roles. She criticised the government's failure to deliver on commitments regarding child sexual exploitation strategies and diversity within the police force. She emphasised that while recent investment in recruitment is welcome, it falls short of restoring pre-2010 levels and fails to address systemic issues like austerity-induced cuts and a lack of public health initiatives against crime.

Victoria Atkins Con

Louth and Horncastle

Welcomed the contributions of Members in a debate on crime and policing, highlighted the government's commitment to reducing crime through funding and new policies, discussed plans for additional police officers, emphasised addressing root causes of violence, mentioned the creation of a serious violence Bill, and detailed investments aimed at tackling organised crime, county lines gangs, and child sexual abuse.

Lyn Brown

Asked the Minister to update the House on the work of the National Crime Agency regarding county lines operations.

Jo Stevens Lab

Cardiff East

Inquired if the Minister would discuss recruitment and retention issues with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, specifically concerning inexperienced prison officers recruited after mass departures from the Prison Service.

Toby Perkins Lab

Chesterfield

Asked about plans for an oral statement on the nationalisation of Northern Rail and raised concerns over the recent franchise award to Arriva.

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