Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Antisocial Behaviour

Monday 7 July 2025 · 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 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister will share lessons from the safer streets initiative with SNP Ministers as it rolls out.
  • Government plans to build on existing data and evidence to develop a model for antisocial behaviour reduction.
  • Minister agrees to meet Sarah Dyke to discuss local issues and the importance of neighbourhood policing.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Baker Lab Glenrothes and Mid Fife
Policing & Resources Community Security
Context

The MP noted increasing incidents of antisocial behaviour in Scotland and falling police numbers, highlighting the need for effective measures to address this issue. He mentioned the success of Kingdom Off Road motorcycle club in his constituency.

Question

With increasing incidents of antisocial behaviour and falling police numbers in Scotland, will the Minister assure me that she will share learning from the safer streets initiative with SNP Ministers, as it is rolled out, to encourage them to raise their game on this issue? Will she also join me and Police Scotland in Fife in praising Kingdom Off Road motorcycle club in my constituency, which is such a success in running activities that divert young people from antisocial behaviour?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)

We will learn lessons over the summer from our initiative and our blitz on town centres, and I am willing to share that with SNP Ministers. I commend the work with young people that is going on in his constituency.

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Q2 Mark Ferguson Lab Gateshead Central and Whickham
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP highlighted the success of Northumbria police’s Operation Shield in reducing antisocial behaviour but noted that more powers and resources are needed to address persistent issues.

Question

We have exciting plans for Gateshead town centre, but we have more work to do on antisocial behaviour. Northumbria police’s Operation Shield has brought down antisocial behaviour significantly, but more powers and more officers are needed. What are the Government doing to ensure that the police have both the powers and the resources to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)

First, I am very pleased to hear about the work of Northumbria police with Operation Shield. We want to build on existing data, good practice and evidence to develop a model that can then be rolled out up and down the country.

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Q3 Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

The MP reported increasing rates of antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, and crime in Glastonbury town centre. A local charity shop manager expressed concerns about the impact on residents and customers.

Question

Glastonbury town centre has seen increasing rates of antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and crime. A local charity shop manager told me that residents and customers are too scared to walk down the high street, which obviously has a negative impact on the local economy. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how effective community policing can be the solution to the persistent issues that Glastonbury is facing?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)

I am, of course, very happy to meet the hon. Lady. That is why neighbourhood policing is important, and why the Government made a commitment to put 13,000 additional police personnel back into our town centres and communities over the course off this Parliament.

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Q4 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Policing & Resources Northern Ireland
Context

The MP thanked the Minister for her work and highlighted community police officers' importance in building relationships within communities over a period of time.

Question

I thank the Minister very much for her answer. I know she is very aware of what we are doing in Northern Ireland, where community police officers are an important part of our policing. The relationships they build up over a period of 12 months, 18 months or two years mean that they become a part of the community. We should share good ideas—we have good ideas, as has the Minister. Will she take the opportunity to discuss those ideas with the policing Minister and the Chief Constable in Northern Ireland, because I believe that what we do can help here as well?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)

I am very pleased to hear about the good ideas being rolled out in Northern Ireland. I hope very much to be able to visit in the near future, so that I am able to see for myself that community policing in Northern Ireland.

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