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Anti-social Behaviour: East of England
11 March 2025
Lead MP
Alice Macdonald
Norwich North
Lab/Co-op
Responding Minister
Dame Diana Johnson
Tags
Policing & ResourcesCrime & Law EnforcementJustice & CourtsDefence
Word Count: 14247
Other Contributors: 16
At a Glance
Alice Macdonald raised concerns about anti-social behaviour: east of england in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Alice Macdonald welcomes the measures set out by the Government in the Crime and Policing Bill but asks the Minister to reassure that respect orders will indeed give authorities the powers they need. She also seeks assurance on the recruitment of 13,000 neighbourhood officers and funding package provided resulting in more police officers visible in Norfolk streets.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Last year, the police recorded 1 million incidents of antisocial behaviour nationally. In Norfolk, there were 8,800 ASB cases reported between 2023 and 2024. The hon. Member highlighted various forms of antisocial behaviour such as fly tipping, littering, loud music at all hours, nuisance neighbours, uncontrolled animals, off-road bikes, graffiti on public spaces, vandalism in parks, and derelict sites becoming hotspots for illegal activities.
Alex Mayer
Lab
Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard
Councils have a duty to crack down on low-level antisocial behaviour. Central Bedfordshire Council's decision to remove safer neighbourhood officers will increase risks to the public.
Alice Macdonald
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Questions the hon. Member about the status of police numbers when the last Government left office, noting a decrease in June 2024 compared to March 2024, and challenges him to provide solutions for funding extra police officers. Discussed specific local issues of antisocial behaviour and the need for effective measures to address them. Summarised three key messages: prevention, strong community powers, and working with communities to improve them further.
Andrew Lewin
Con
Welwyn Hatfield
Endorses the measures in the Crime and Policing Bill that would give police powers to seize bikes or vehicles immediately, ban persistent offenders from town centres with criminal penalties for non-compliance, and recruit more neighbourhood police community support officers. Addressed problems faced by older people, pensioners, and young children due to antisocial behaviour from vehicles.
Discussed the £200 million investment for neighbourhood policing and mentioned the need to address antisocial behaviour through the Crime and Policing Bill.
David Taylor
Lab
Hemel Hempstead
Welcomes the action to be taken on dirt bikes through the Crime and Policing Bill but raises concerns about other types of vehicles with modified exhausts which create noise issues for residents. Taylor highlighted significant antisocial behaviour and crime rates in Hemel Hempstead, attributing them to cuts made by the previous Conservative government. He supported the Crime and Policing Bill's measures. Discussed issues related to county lines and vulnerable children, as well as his police ride-along experience.
Kieran Mullan
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Acknowledged the challenge of addressing antisocial behaviour in diverse regions like the east of England, noting lower crime rates but calling for more ambitious action. Emphasised the need to work with police forces and highlighted past government efforts.
Jen Craft
Con
Haltemprice and Howden
Hears concerns from constituents about antisocial behaviour, including dirt bikes causing noise pollution and fear of child safety. Welcomes measures in the Crime and Policing Bill for tackling these issues but calls for prioritising community policing. Asked about the decline in issuance of public notices for low-level offences, noting a drop from consistent levels in 2010 to zero in 2023. Agrees with the hon. Member's point about youth services but raises concerns regarding data on special educational needs and undiagnosed disabilities among prison populations, suggesting tackling root causes of antisocial behaviour. Expressed concerns about dirt bikes causing noise, fear, and no-go zones in her constituency. Asked about areas where police, fire and crime commissioners do not support neighbourhood policing.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The hon. Member for Strangford commended Alice Macdonald on securing the debate, agreeing that there must be a better community police presence to take substantive action against antisocial behaviour in public spaces. Highlighted the role of churches and voluntary groups in providing support to young people and preventing them from engaging in antisocial behaviour or crime.
Josh Dean
Con
Hertford and Stortford
Talked about the Young Futures programme and the need to engage with young people through initiatives like the Thirst youth café.
Lewis Cocking
Con
Hertford and Stortford
Research shows that individuals in housing associations are up to 30% more likely to experience antisocial behaviour compared with those who own their property. Renaming existing civil injunctions as housing injunctions may not help deal with this type of behaviour. Asked whether the Government should explore banning apps that notify people of police patrols, which can help catch those who speed and engage in antisocial driving. Cocking reminded the House that the previous Conservative Government recruited 20,000 police officers across the country. Focused on the role of social landlords in tackling antisocial behaviour and improving community safety. Asked the Minister for assurances that a multi-agency approach would result in action on the ground to address antisocial behaviour.
Luke Charters
Lab
York Outer
Mr Charters shared case studies of shoplifting, vandalism, and harassment in his constituency. He emphasized the need to address the root causes of antisocial behaviour by providing opportunities for young people and restoring pride in communities.
Marie Goldman
Lab
Chelmsford
Ms Goldman discussed issues such as drug dealing, fly-tipping, and noisy car meets affecting her constituency. She called for better local council efforts to tackle structural issues that contribute to antisocial behaviour. Supported the call for more focus on youth services and the importance of engaging young people to prevent antisocial behaviour. Highlighted the impact of previous government cuts. Asks the hon. Member if he is aware of plans by Essex’s Conservative police commissioner to get rid of all 99 PCSOs, questioning whether that would be the right course of action.
Bayo Alaba
Lab
Southend East and Rochford
Bayo Alaba thanked Alice Macdonald for allowing him to intervene in the debate on anti-social behaviour.
Charters
Con
York Outer
Asked about respect orders and their applicability only to over-18-year-olds.
Sam Carling
Lab
North West Cambridgeshire
Sam Carling reported regular instances of antisocial behaviour in his constituency, such as screeching tyres from motorbikes, loud music until the early hours of the morning, and constant instances of drugs and antisocial drinking.
Terry Jermy
Lab
South West Norfolk
Noted that youth services have been eroded across the east due to cuts in council funding, often making these services the first to be cut. Noted the lack of PCSOs in Norfolk and highlighted that it was a decision taken by a previous Conservative PCC.
Government Response
Dame Diana Johnson
The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention
Government Response
Responded positively to the debate focusing on antisocial behaviour across the east of England. Emphasised the Government's cross-departmental approach to young people’s safety issues and highlighted neighbourhood policing initiatives funded with £200 million for recruiting 13,000 uniformed officers in England and Wales. Emphasised the commitment to neighbourhood policing, announced a £200 million investment, mentioned the importance of early intervention and tough measures against persistent adult perpetrators, and discussed the Crime and Policing Bill's provisions. Introduced respect orders to restrict persistent adult perpetrators in areas they have been behaving antisocially. Extended the maximum time limit for dispersal directions from 48 to 72 hours and increased fixed penalty notices from £100 to £500. Also introduced a duty for agencies to report ASB data, ending immunity for low-value shop theft, and introducing an offence of assaulting retail workers with a potential six-month prison sentence.
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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.