Adam Dance highlighted under-investment in Yeovil's police force, resulting in fewer officers and less funding, which has led to increased antisocial behaviour and business closures. He cited specific incidents such as a stolen police van and vandalism during a community event, and emphasized the need for a new custody suite and more investment. He also mentioned the lack of handcuffs for PCSOs, which affects their ability to detain suspects safely. Will commit to asking the Policing Minister to meet the local police force and discuss the custody unit issue in south Somerset.

Blake Stephenson welcomed the Minister and the hon. Member for Pendle and Clitheroe for securing the debate. He highlighted issues such as the Henry Nowak murder and inappropriate use of non-crime hate incidents undermining public confidence in policing. He mentioned that only 8.5% of crimes were solved in the year to March 2026, with crime increasing by 10% and antisocial behaviour by 15%. He advocated for better use of technology and more police officers, and questioned the Minister about how to hold the Government to account on their commitments to neighbourhood policing. He also criticised the Government's early-release schemes for placing strain on police forces. Asked for assurance that neighbourhood policing officers will not be re-tasked with other work under the neighbourhood policing guarantee.

Gareth Thomas highlighted the criticism of the police due to failures of other agencies in Harrow and called for closer scrutiny of funding. He also suggested that the Metropolitan police should receive more recognition in the funding formula for tackling national and international crime. Thomas criticised the contract given to Kingdom by Harrow council and urged the council to invest in additional police officers instead. He called for more government scrutiny of local authorities' performance in tackling antisocial behaviour and more funding for youth facilities and CCTV projects. Thomas raised concerns about the £1 billion real-terms funding cut for the Metropolitan police between 2010 and 2014 and asked for assurance that such cuts will not happen again. He also urged the Minister to allow the Metropolitan police to retain more of the proceeds from successful operations and sought an update on the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023.

Does my hon. Friend agree that confidence in policing is often undermined by the public's use of finite clips on social media, which do not take account of what happened immediately before whatever incident is broadcast? Senior police officers and Government Ministers need to respond quickly in respect of the entire environment around the clip. More account needs to be taken of the environment in which clips that undermine confidence are used.

Jim Shannon paid tribute to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for their work in his constituency and highlighted the challenges they face, including rural crime and limited resources. He emphasized the need for more community policing, encouraging police officers to engage with schools and suggested the introduction of police cadets to build trust with young people. Shannon also expressed concerns about the PSNI's focus on non-threatening social media comments and street preaching while actual crime goes unaddressed, which undermines public confidence. He called for better funding and resources to ensure the PSNI can focus on core law enforcement. Jim Shannon agreed with Adam Dance's point about the need for more officers, noting that an increasing population should be matched with an increase in police numbers. Sought assurance for the Provisional Sinn Féin (PSNI) to receive necessary resources to combat terrorism in Northern Ireland effectively.

Luke Myer thanked his hon. Friend for recognising the bravery of police officers in Cleveland, who have faced significant challenges due to a reduction of 220 officers since 2010, and called for an urgent review of the funding formula to prevent penalising high-deprivation areas.

Concerned about the decrease in public confidence in the police despite a reduction in crime rates. Emphasised the importance of visible policing presence to deter antisocial behaviour and provide reassurance to women. Highlighted issues such as aggressive and misogynistic behaviour, domestic abuse, and the need for taskforces and partnerships to tackle violence against women. Questioned the Minister on the Hogan-Howe review and the need for resources in rural policing. Criticised the narrative of 'two-tier policing' and the misuse of free speech laws, calling for clarification on legal positions for police officers. Inquired about the alignment of boundaries for policing and regional governance in Cheltenham, questioning the Government's devolution agenda and the need for transparency.

Wendy Chamberlain, a former police officer in Lothian and Borders police, pointed out the challenge of continual role churn in the police service, which leads to a lack of community familiarity and mutual understanding between officers and residents, suggesting that culturally this is an issue the police service needs to address. Wendy Chamberlain discussed the role of elected representatives in maintaining public confidence in policing, citing her engagement with local officers regarding youth antisocial behaviour in North East Fife. She also highlighted the importance of addressing historical failures in police investigations to rebuild trust among survivors of Fayed and Harrods.