Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Antisocial Behaviour

Monday 22 May 2023 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Paul Howell asked about police recruitment in Durham and was informed about the safer streets fund providing 3.4 million to the area.
  • Emma Lewell questioned the Home Secretary about speeding penalties, who admitted to having been caught speeding and paid the fine.
  • Peter Dowd noted a reduction in police numbers in Merseyside and was told that the area has received millions in funding and seven rounds of safer streets fund projects.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paul Howell
Policing & Resources Community Security
Context

Durham has seen a rise in police numbers since 2019, but recruitment is still needed to reach the 2010 level. Sedgefield constituents are concerned about frontline deployment to antisocial behaviour hotspots.

Question

I compliment the Secretary of State on driving the increase in police numbers on the streets. While Durham has 239 more police officers since 2019, will she confirm that recruitment will continue, as we have not yet returned to the 2010 level? Will she advise me and my Sedgefield constituents how to ensure that the emphasis is on frontline deployment to antisocial behaviour hotspots?

Answer from Suella Braverman

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his doughty campaigning in his constituency. Durham has received £3.4 million through four rounds of the safer streets fund, including just under £1.5 million in the current round. This is funding projects such as youth diversionary activity, ASB education programmes and target hardening measures. This Government are putting more police on the streets and engaging with communities to enable them to prevent crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm continued recruitment or advice for frontline deployment but provided funding details.

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Q2 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

The Home Secretary previously admitted to speeding. Emma asks if no one should be above the law.

Question

Driving without care or consideration is described as one of the worst forms of antisocial behaviour, as the consequences can be fatal. If caught speeding, does the Home Secretary agree that no one should be above the law?

Answer from Suella Braverman

As I said earlier, last summer I was speeding. I regret that. I paid the fine and I took the penalty. At no point did I attempt to evade sanction. What I am focused on is working for more police officers, so I am proud that this Conservative Government have secured a record number in the history of policing. This side of the House is focused on the people's priorities.

Not addressed: Did not directly answer whether she agrees no one should be above the law for speeding and antisocial behaviour but discussed her previous speeding incident and current focus on police numbers.

How: Changed Subject

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Q3 Peter Dowd Lab Bootle
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Merseyside has fewer police officers and less funding compared to previous years, prompting a joint letter from the Home Secretary and Levelling Up Secretary on tackling antisocial behaviour.

Question

According to a joint letter I received from the Home Secretary and the Levelling Up Secretary on 27 March 2023: “Tackling antisocial behaviour is an absolute priority for this Government.” In the real world, how can 450 fewer police officers in Merseyside since 2010, and 69p per person invested in the immediate justice pilot, be classed as anything approaching tackling antisocial behaviour?

Answer from Suella Braverman

I am pleased that, thanks to this Government's commitment, Merseyside has received millions of pounds of increased funding compared with previous years, but, most importantly, there have been seven rounds of safer streets fund projects in Merseyside, with 2.9 million in total provided over four rounds. I am glad that Merseyside has been chosen as one of our pilot areas for our immediate justice scheme, which is one way we will kick antisocial behaviour.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address the specific funding figures or reduction in police numbers but provided general increase in funding and safer streets fund allocations.

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Q4 Jonathan Gullis
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Over 300 new police officers recruited in Stoke-on-Trent North, but crime has increased by 75% in Cobridge and a safer streets petition with over 430 signatures.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for her earlier answer. In Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, we are delighted to have seen more than 330 brand-new police officers recruited, new CCTV in Kidsgrove parish and more than £2 million in safer streets funding for Stoke-on-Trent. Sadly, however, in places such as Cobridge, crime increased by 75% between January and December 2022, which is why I launched the safer streets petition, which has more than 430 signatures. Will my right hon. Friend work to get the police and crime commissioner and the city council to bid with me for the next safer streets pot, to keep the streets safe in Tunstall, Cobridge and Smallthorne?

Answer from Suella Braverman

My hon. Friend does a great job of standing up for his constituents on antisocial behaviour. In March, we launched the action plan to crack down on precisely the behaviour he has been talking about. The plan is backed by more than £160 million of new funding. That includes funding for an increased police and other uniformed presence in ASB hotspots. I am glad that his force has also been chosen as one of the pilots.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specifically address working with local authorities to bid but provided general information about new funding and pilot areas.

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Q5 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

Bagworth, Earl Shilton, Barwell parish councillors have real problems with vandalism and graffiti in some of their playgrounds leading to closure considerations.

Question

I am pleased to see the plan being brought forward, because only last week I was speaking to parish councillors from Bagworth who have had real problems with vandalism and graffiti in some of their playgrounds —so much so that they are thinking of closing them. I have heard of this happening in places such as Earl Shilton and Barwell, too. Will the Home Secretary say how the plan will support communities such as mine?

Answer from Suella Braverman

I was pleased to visit Leicestershire police force some months ago. I am committed to supporting communities and the police. I am pleased that Leicestershire police has received £2.8 million through four rounds of the safer streets fund, including £800,000 in the current round, to fund projects such as youth diversion activities, antisocial behaviour education programmes, and target hardening. We have funded several initiatives, and that is how we work together with other agencies to ensure that our streets are safer, communities can restore pride, and ultimately that criminals are put behind bars.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address Bagworth but provided general information about funding for Leicestershire police force.

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Q6 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security Children & Families
Context

Kendal's recently established Youth Matters project is engaging young people with worthwhile activities. Concern about lack of youth work funding to help reduce antisocial behaviour.

Question

In Kendal we are proud of the recently set up Youth Matters project, which is about engaging young people with worthwhile activities to do with their time. Does the Home Secretary agree that as well as tackling antisocial behaviour by firm and adequately resourced policing, it is important that she works with her colleagues in the Department for Education to boost youth work, in particular detached youth work, to help give young people worthwhile things to do with their time? What is she doing to improve funding for that part of our armoury against antisocial behaviour?

Answer from Suella Braverman

Tackling antisocial behaviour is one of my priorities. That is why I launched the plan with the Prime Minister. It requires a multifaceted solution, and a lot of work must be focused on youth diversion. I was pleased to visit a boxing project a few weeks ago, in which money from the Home Office was diverted to encourage young people off the streets to take up a sport, work with mentors, and learn a new skill. It is a great way of reducing crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific funding or action on boosting youth work but discussed multifaceted solutions including boxing projects funded by the Home Office.

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Q7 Sarah Jones Lab Croydon West
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The Home Secretary previously stated that antisocial behaviour causes misery and menace, with neighbourhood and traffic police addressing speeding and dangerous driving. The question arises from a specific case involving the Home Secretary herself.

Question

Does the Home Secretary think that people who speed should be given the option to get private speeding awareness courses rather than doing them with everyone else? In her own case, what exactly did she ask her civil servants to help her with?

Answer from Suella Braverman

Last summer, I was speeding. I paid the fine and accepted the points without seeking to evade the sanction. However, the shadow Minister is attempting to distract from Labour's failure to offer serious proposals on crime or policing. They voted against tougher sentences for paedophiles and murderers and campaigned against the deportation of foreign criminals.

Not addressed: The specific question about speeding awareness courses and actions taken regarding her own case were not addressed directly.

How: Distract From Labour'S Failure, Voted Against Tougher Sentences For Paedophiles And Murderers, Campaigning Against The Deportation Of Foreign Criminals

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