Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Antisocial Behaviour

Monday 20 June 2022 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Robbie Moore asked the Home Secretary about antisocial behaviour impacting Keighley, and the Home Secretary responded by highlighting the fourth round of the safer streets fund, which includes measures like improved street lighting and training.
  • Shaun Bailey inquired about antisocial behaviour issues in Wednesbury, Oldbury and Tipton, and received a response noting the Government's provision of increased funding to West Midlands police to address these issues.
  • Kerry McCarthy raised concerns about the misuse of e-scooters in Bristol, and the response indicated that the Government is working on new legislation but currently, the police are responsible for enforcing the illegal use of e-scooters on pavements.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Policing & Resources Community Security
Context

The Home Secretary visited Keighley where she met the neighbourhood policing team. Antisocial behaviour is a significant issue affecting businesses and residents.

Question

As the Home Secretary will be aware from her recent visit to Keighley, where she met our hard-working neighbourhood policing team, antisocial behaviour is unfortunately an undeniable problem and is having a detrimental impact on many businesses, residents and those going about their day-to-day lives. I was therefore delighted to see the Government launch round 4 of the safer streets fund with a specific focus on antisocial behaviour. Can my hon. Friend confirm that this will help drive a positive change in Keighley and beyond?

Answer from Rachel Maclean

I very much thank my hon. Friend for his question. We are aware of the impact that antisocial behaviour has, and that is why this Government have introduced round 4 of the safer streets fund. That includes improved street lighting, increased CCTV and training to change attitudes and behaviours, all of which tackle antisocial behaviour.

Answered
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Q2 Shaun Bailey
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

Antisocial behaviour in the Laburnum Road area of Tipton has spiked. The question addresses how cross-agency work is being done to tackle this issue.

Question

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her response. Unfortunately, antisocial behaviour continues to blight my residents in Wednesbury, Oldbury and Tipton, nowhere more so than in the Laburnum Road area of Tipton which has seen a spike in reports. Will my hon. Friend touch a little more on the cross-working that she is doing, particularly with stakeholders in the Black Country, such as West Midlands police and Sandwell Council, to ensure we really do have a community-led approach to tackling antisocial behaviour?

Answer from Rachel Maclean

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that this is a multi-agency and community approach. Yes, of course, the police are responsible for tackling and dealing with antisocial behaviour, which is why we are providing £695 million funding to West Midlands police, an increase of £40 million. The force has also been able to recruit over 1,000 additional officers.

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Q3 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Crime & Law Enforcement Transport
Context

E-scooters are causing safety concerns in Bristol. The question asks about the regulation of e-scooters and their misuse.

Question

In Bristol, we have a successful e-scooter rental pilot, but we also see people using e-scooters illegally and using rental e-scooters on the pavement. That can be very scary for people trying to walk along the pavement while that is happening. I know the Government are looking to legalise and regulate private ownership, but how will the Home Office team work with the Department for Transport team to ensure the police have the powers to stop them being misused in a way that scares people who are just trying to go about their daily business?

Answer from Rachel Maclean

The Department is introducing new legislation to deal with some of these issues. Until that is on the statute book, however, it is the responsibility of the police to deal with the issue, and they have clear guidance: riding an e-scooter on the pavement is illegal in all circumstances.

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Q4 Naseem Shah Lab Bradford West
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The Conservative Government's track record on antisocial behaviour and crime reduction is being questioned.

Question

The hon. Member for Keighley (Robbie Moore) is right to ask the Government what they are doing to tackle antisocial behaviour. In his constituency total recorded crime went up by 59% from 2011-12 to 2020-21, which highlights the Conservative Government's track record, a damning one at that. No wonder crime is up. Action on antisocial behaviour is down since his Government took out 7,000 neighbourhood police officers—a cut of 30%—so the 1,000 the Minister just mentioned does not quite cut it. Will the Minister tell the House why the Government do not believe in neighbourhood policing, as they have clearly given up on it with the cuts they have made?

Answer from Rachel Maclean

The hon. Lady is completely wrong in the contention she puts forward to the House. This Government introduced the beating crime plan, which puts tackling antisocial behaviour at its heart. We are increasing funding to the police and bringing more officers on to the streets to tackle this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific reasons for cutting 7,000 neighbourhood police officers were not addressed.

How: Completely Wrong In Contention

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