House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Crime in City Centres

Monday 15 September 2025 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

Jessica Morden asked the Government to consider strengthening powers to stop shops from reopening after time-limited closure orders.
Dave Doogan inquired about a case in his constituency where equity in vehicles owned by Mackie Motors was stolen by a French bank, leading to the business's decline.
The Minister offered to discuss the issue with Dave Doogan and mentioned similar issues faced by SMEs in their constituency.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East

Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement

Context

Jessica Morden commended the Newport City Council for allocating £300,000 for new CCTV installations and noted the success of trading standards in seizing nearly £2 million worth of illegal cigarettes and vapes. However, she highlighted a challenge with time-limited shop closure orders which often result in quick reopening by rogue retailers.

Question

While trading standards and the police are working really hard to tackle this issue, the time-limited nature of shop closure orders means that the shops often quickly reopen. What more can the Government do to strengthen powers to stop this?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

The United Kingdom boasts a fantastic array of cities, each of which has a unique character and appeal. In order to thrive, our city centres must be safe. That is why this Government are putting policing back on the beat and bringing in stronger powers to crack down on shop theft and antisocial behaviour.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific measures or strengthen enforcement against rogue retailers as requested.

How: Changing Subject

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Q2 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens

Crime & Law Enforcement Business & Trade

Context

A constituent of Dave Doogan's experienced equity theft from Mackie Motors by a French bank based in London. The company was subsequently shut down due to actions taken by the bank, causing significant disruption to a long-standing local business.

Question

Sometimes crime wears a suit, as happened in Brechin in my constituency, where Mackie Motors had equity in their vehicles stolen by a French bank based in London. Then, through mendacity or incompetence or both, the bank turned off the oxygen for that business of 50 years. I have met with Home Office and Treasury Ministers to try to get around this. My constituent has been to the Financial Conduct Authority, who told them to go to the police, who then told them to go back to the FCA, who then told them to go to Citizens Advice—you could not make this cluster-fankle up. Is it not the case that in the UK today, if a small or medium-sized enterprise is in dispute with a bank, the Financial Conduct Authority will demonstrate that it is neither use nor ornament?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

I cannot comment on the specific details, as I am not aware of that case, but I am very happy to have a conversation with the hon. Member. Some SMEs in my constituency have had similar issues, so I am very happy to take that forward.