Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Alistair Strathern Excerpts
Monday 13th January 2025

(2 days, 11 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alistair Strathern Portrait Alistair Strathern (Hitchin) (Lab)
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Right across the towns and villages I represent, people have seen, as the rural policing presence has declined, predictable increases in shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, farm break-ins and fly-tipping. We cannot allow that to be tolerated. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that my local police have the resources and powers they need to take those crimes seriously?

Diana Johnson Portrait Dame Diana Johnson
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The neighbourhood policing guarantee applies not just to towns and cities, of course, but to rural communities, so we will see a far greater police presence out and about in those communities. The Home Office is currently working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council on a rural and wildlife crime strategy, to crack down on some of the crime and disorder that has worsened in recent years.