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Town and City Centre Safety
03 February 2026
Lead MP
Baggy Shanker
Derby South
Lab/Co-op
Responding Minister
Sarah Jones
Tags
Crime & Law Enforcement
Word Count: 14221
Other Contributors: 31
At a Glance
Baggy Shanker raised concerns about town and city centre safety in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP calls for more investment in bobbies on the beat and CCTV systems to ensure that everyone feels safe to live, work, and play in Derby's city centre.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Derby has a vibrant community that works hard to maintain the city, but residents express concerns about safety issues such as drug users loitering on streets and paths by the River Derwent. The lack of visible policing also heightens these worries.
Anna Dixon
Lab
Shipley
Commends neighbourhood policing teams essential for ensuring safety on high streets and town centres, highlighting government investment in 3,000 more police officers.
Derby North
Agrees with the need for more bobbies on the beat and investment in CCTV systems, highlighting the importance of community safety for regeneration efforts.
Danny Beales
Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Suggests councils should work with the police to ban face coverings in town centres where appropriate, citing an example of Hillingdon council refusing such a ban despite community requests.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
He talked about food delivery companies' business models exploiting workers who drive illegal e-bikes recklessly. He mentioned the police impounding 13 e-bikes outside his constituency office and advocated for more funding to address such issues.
Gill German
Lab
Clwyd North
Praised community safety initiatives in Clwyd North, including better cohesion between local PCSOs and shopkeepers. Highlighted more PCSOs in every neighbourhood and local initiatives like Operation Restore.
Graeme Downie
Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
Discusses challenges faced by Dunfermline, including vandalism, shop break-ins, and lack of support from different levels of Government. Calls for UK Government intervention in form of tax incentives.
Harpreet Uppal
Lab
Huddersfield
Huddersfield faces challenges like under-investment, visible decline of high streets, increase in vape shops and counterfeit stores; lack of trust in institutions to deliver safety.
Epsom and Ewell
Highlights the importance of a visible police presence during night-time hours to support a thriving yet safe night-time economy.
Jack Abbott
Lab/Co-op
Ipswich
Clear, Hold, Build initiative led to over 100 arrests and charges totalling nearly 43 years; Operation Spotlight increased police patrolling hours; crime fell by 13% in the past few years.
Jessica Toale
Lab
Bournemouth West
She discusses crime in Bournemouth despite lower crime rates compared to other areas, highlighting the need for better safety measures and community confidence.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Provided a Northern Ireland perspective on town and city centre safety, mentioning specific Government-led initiatives and issues with outdated CCTV systems not being fit for purpose.
Jodie Gosling
Lab
Nuneaton
She describes Nuneaton town centre's decline and efforts to transform it, welcoming government funding of £1.5 million for the town centre transformation project.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Asked the Minister to look at whether borough or district council-run community wardens can play a powerful role in defeating antisocial behaviour and criminality. Highlighted the need for powers to address young people carrying out antisocial acts.
Julie Minns
Lab
Carlisle
Raises concerns about illegal e-bikes speeding through parks and town centres, advocating for a ban on their sale to address the issue at its source.
Aylesbury
Retail workers face threats from shoplifters; persistent antisocial behaviour deters customers; measures in the Crime and Policing Bill will address these issues.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
Discussed the issue of empty properties on high streets leading to crime. Asked if the Government should press heavily for local authorities to take buildings back from absentee landlords.
Lizzi Collinge
Lab
Morecambe and Lunesdale
Central to making our streets safe is the Government’s plan to put 13,000 additional police officers into neighbourhood roles by 2029. Local initiatives such as Safe Morecambe are also important.
Luke Taylor
LD
Sutton and Cheam
Asked the hon. Member if she acknowledges that total crime figures in London have increased over the last year under Mayor Sadiq Khan. Expressed concern over visible crimes such as shoplifting and sexual assaults increasing in London despite overall crime rates declining. Criticised the lack of police officers on high streets, leading to a decrease in public safety.
Margaret Mullane
Lab
Dagenham and Rainham
The deterioration of high streets due to closed shops, rubbish piling up, and shoplifting is a concern. One shopworker in Elm Park was traumatised after being assaulted.
Matt Vickers
Con
Stockton West
Town and city centres face challenges due to high business rates, job taxes, and pressure on pubs. Stockton-on-Tees has seen a decline in its town centre with unacceptable levels of crime, partly due to the council's soft approach to antisocial behaviour.
Melanie Onn
Lab
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Campaigns against dodgy vape shops on high streets that sell goods to young people, advocating for commercial landlords to have more powers to shut down such establishments.
Michelle Welsh
Lab
Sherwood Forest
Local businesses in towns like Hucknall face violent attacks from offenders who are often known to them and have targeted the same stores repeatedly. Addiction is a major factor driving such criminal activity.
Naushabah Khan
Lab
Gillingham and Rainham
She discussed the decline of her constituency's high street due to antisocial behaviour, drug activity, knife crime, and underinvestment. She highlighted the importance of a multi-agency approach, community policing, and national Government interventions in addressing these issues.
Birmingham Erdington
Erdington High Street recorded some of the highest levels of crime in Birmingham. Operation Fearless secured £880,000 from the proceeds of crime fund to combat violence, theft and drug offences.
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
Critiques Labour's funding cuts to London’s police service, highlighting the closure of 24-hour police counters in Bromley. Urges against further cuts and manifesto breaches.
Phil Brickell
Lab
Bolton West
He emphasizes the importance of tackling economic crime in town centres to support regeneration efforts and safer streets initiatives.
Rachael Maskell
Lab/Co-op
York Central
She expressed concerns about bike and shop theft, substance misuse, county lines drug activity, youth services, public spaces protection orders, CCTV coverage, and the funding formula for policing. She also mentioned Unite’s campaign 'Get Me Home Safely', taxi licensing regimes, and protecting transport staff.
Sadik Al-Hassan
Lab
North Somerset
Safety concerns in North Somerset's town centres, noting rising antisocial behaviour and crime despite overall national decline. Emphasises the need for CCTV coverage and police presence.
Sarah Jones
Lab
Minister for Policing and Crime
The Minister praised the MPs in attendance and discussed recent crime statistics showing a decrease in knife crime. She highlighted government initiatives to increase police numbers on streets.
Stuart Anderson
Con
South Shropshire
Proposes a cleaner high street as an initial approach to improve community pride and reduce crime, emphasizing the need for police presence alongside cleanliness initiatives.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
Suggests adopting a co-ordinated and holistic approach to city centre safety, with appropriate funding for youth services, as exemplified by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership.
Government Response
Sarah Jones
The Minister for Policing and Crime
Government Response
The Government will not shy away from tackling serious violence and knife crime, with knife murders down 27% since their power. They have committed to having 13,000 more officers by the end of Parliament, addressing everyday crime through better technology and reducing bureaucracy for police.
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Assessment & feedback
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.