Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Neighbourhood Policing

Monday 6 February 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department assessed the adequacy of neighbourhood policing levels.
  • The number of police community support officers dropped by 8,500 nationally over 13 years.
  • Public spaces protection orders are recommended to combat antisocial behaviour.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Policing & Resources
Context

The MP noted concerns about neighbourhood policing levels and their impact on antisocial behaviour, citing a drop of 8,500 in the number of police community support officers nationally over the past 13 years.

Question

What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of levels of neighbourhood policing. Nationally, why have we seen an overall drop of 8,500 in the number of police community support officers over the past 13 years?

Answer from Chris Philp

We are on track to recruit an extra 20,000 police officers by March, with over 16,000 already recruited. The number of police officers will be more than at any time in history: approximately 148,000.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for a recent assessment on the adequacy of neighbourhood policing levels and reasons for PCSO decline, but the answerer focused only on overall police officer numbers without addressing these specifics.

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Q2 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP highlighted the importance of neighbourhood policing in tackling antisocial behaviour, noting a national drop of 8,500 police community support officers over the past 13 years.

Question

Neighbourhood policing is vital in cracking down on antisocial behaviour. Nationally, why have we seen an overall drop of 8,500 in the number of police community support officers over the past 13 years? Locally, in Northumbria, there has been a drop of 395, and we are still down by 565 police officers since 2010.

Answer from Chris Philp

According to the crime survey, criminal damage has dropped by 65%, domestic burglary has dropped by 56%, robbery has dropped by 57% and violence has dropped by 38%. This is what has dropped since 2010.

Not addressed: The MP asked for an explanation of the decline in PCSOs, but the answerer provided statistics on crime reduction instead.

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Q3 Kelly Tolhurst Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

The MP reported a decrease in burglary and overall crime in Kent but highlighted the issue of car racing and meets causing problems for local residents.

Question

In Kent, burglary has decreased by 41% and crime overall has decreased by 7%. However, in Medway we have been blighted by the new phenomenon of car racing and car meets, which have created terrible antisocial behaviour and lots of problems for local residents. Does my right hon. Friend agree that Kent police working with the council to implement a public spaces protection order is a great way to tackle this nuisance?

Answer from Chris Philp

I agree with my hon. Friend that public spaces protection orders are a very good way to combat antisocial behaviour, whether it is antisocial racing or nitrous oxide consumption. I encourage all local authorities to use PSPOs.

Answered
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