Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Organised Crime

Monday 27 November 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 7 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • We will continue to break the business model of organised crime gangs to keep people safe.
  • Recent work includes international collaboration to seize boats and engines used by criminal gangs.
  • Up to 145 million is being invested in the county lines programme to close lines and make arrests.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Antony Higginbotham
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP is concerned about the growing levels of organised crime in his constituency.

Question

What steps are being taken to help reduce levels of organised crime, particularly focusing on disrupting criminal gangs' activities and international operations?

Answer from James Cleverly

We will continue to break the business model of organised crime gangs to keep people safe. The Criminal Justice Bill creates new powers targeting organised criminal gangs, and we are disrupting their activities both domestically in the UK and internationally.

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Q2 Simon Jupp
Migrants & Borders
Context

The MP highlights the dangerous journeys of smuggled individuals and the need to stop boats in a way that is consistent with international obligations.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that we must focus on breaking the business model of criminal gangs involved in illegal small-boat crossings, ensuring their activities are stopped?

Answer from James Cleverly

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We must do everything we can to break the business model of these criminal gangs, including recent work with international partners to seize boats and engines.

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Q3 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Crime & Law Enforcement Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP discusses serious organised acquisitive crime targeting high-value agricultural equipment in rural communities and the work of the National Rural Crime Unit.

Question

What additional resources can be provided to ensure that the NRCU has what it needs to tackle serious organised criminal gangs involved in stealing agricultural equipment?

Answer from James Cleverly

Driving down rural crime is important, and we have provided £200,000 to help set up the NRCU. We will continue to work with rural police forces.

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Q4 Antony Higginbotham
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP highlights the problem of organised groups peddling drugs and exploiting young people in Burnley and across Lancashire, mentioning good work by the enhanced rural policing unit.

Question

What additional support can be given to Lancashire Constabulary to tackle county lines and bring order back to streets?

Answer from James Cleverly

We are investing up to £145 million in the county lines programme, resulting in over 4,700 county lines closed, over 14,800 arrests and over 7,200 safeguard referrals.

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Q5 Nia Griffith Lab Llanelli
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

The MP highlights the tripling of time it takes for a crime to be charged since 2016 and asks if the Government will embrace Police Federation's “Simplify DG6” campaign.

Question

Will the Secretary of State embrace the Police Federation's 'Simplify DG6' campaign to cut bureaucracy, get cases to CPS quicker, and free up officers' time?

Answer from James Cleverly

We are actively working with the CPS to simplify and speed up this process. We want police officers out on the beat, tackling crime.

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Q6 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP notes a 25% increase in shoplifting and highlights the issue of organised criminal gangs targeting shops.

Question

What assurance can be provided to shop workers that the Government will start dealing with these gangs involved in retail crime?

Answer from James Cleverly

We take seriously through Operation Pegasus. We are working on this issue through leadership of the police and crime commissioner for Sussex.

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Q7 Alex Norris Labour (Co-op) Nottingham North and Kimberley
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP discusses the Government's pledge to treat retail crime as organised crime but questions their Criminal Justice Bill.

Question

Will the Government accept amendments adding protection for shop workers into legislation addressing retail crime?

Answer from James Cleverly

Attacking shop workers is already a statutory aggravating factor. We will look at what more can be done to protect them.

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