Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Neighbourhood Crime

Monday 15 January 2024 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Selaine Saxby inquired about ensuring councils have funding to support the safer streets fund extension into Ilfracombe.
  • Simon Jupp praised record levels of police numbers in Devon and Cornwall and asked about progress in tackling neighbourhood crime.
  • Rachael Maskell reported daily theft incidents in Co-op stores and staff experiencing assaults, and questioned the government's approach to retail crime.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Selaine Saxby
Crime & Law Enforcement Local Government

Question

I have seen for myself how successful the Government's safer streets fund was in Barnstaple, and I am delighted that it will be extended into Ilfracombe this year. Will my right hon. Friend ensure that councils have the funding to help support those schemes?

Answer from James Cleverly

I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting that point. I am proud of the fact that, since 2010, neighbourhood crime is down by 51% because of the kind of interventions that she highlighted. I reassure her that we will continue to look at what works, to fund and support, and to make every effort to drive down neighbourhood crime even further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit specifically to funding for councils but acknowledged the importance of reducing neighbourhood crime

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Q2 Simon Jupp
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement

Question

Police numbers across Devon and Cornwall are at record levels and deserve our praise. In a recent survey, my constituents in East Devon said that tackling neighbourhood crime is an absolute priority, as ranging from burglaries to thefts from vehicles. Will my right hon. Friend outline what progress this Conservative Government have made on cracking down on neighbourhood crime?

Answer from James Cleverly

I am very pleased that my hon. Friend's local community is feeling the positive impact of the decisions we have made. Since coming into Government, we have seen serious violence reduced by 26%, and neighbourhood crime down by 27% since the start of this Parliament. We have seen a 36% reduction in domestic burglary, an 18% reduction in vehicle-related theft and a 61% decrease in robbery. We have reduced homicide by 15%, have taken action on drugs and are committed to—

Answered
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Q3 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP visited five Co-op stores experiencing theft, with one losing £35,000-worth of goods over six months.

Question

On Friday I visited five Co-op stores and every one of them had daily experience of theft, with one losing £35,000-worth of goods over six months and staff experiencing assaults. In light of Labour's pledge to introduce 13,000 more community police and a law on retail crime, what is the Secretary of State really doing? Clearly his plan is not working.

Answer from James Cleverly

We have a retail crime action plan. We have ensured that assaults against shop workers is an aggravating factor and we have made it clear to police forces across the country that we expect them to take action on neighbourhood crime like that and to pursue every reasonable line of inquiry. We are determined to drive down retail crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific actions or additional resources for tackling retail crime

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