Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Ashley Fox Excerpts
Monday 2nd June 2025

(4 days, 4 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Yvette Cooper Portrait Yvette Cooper
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The hon. Member is right. There has been an increase in shoplifting in recent years, at the same time as neighbourhood policing numbers have fallen. As a result of the neighbourhood policing guarantee, there will be 110 additional neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs in Devon and Cornwall police over the next 12 months. That is important, but we are also strengthening their powers to tackle shoplifting.

Ashley Fox Portrait Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)
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Will the Home Secretary acknowledge the role that special constables play in neighbourhood policing, and does she agree that granting special constables the right to unpaid time from their employment to perform their duties would assist in their recruitment?

Yvette Cooper Portrait Yvette Cooper
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The hon. Member makes a really important point about the role of specials. We want them to be able to play a much stronger role, not just in neighbourhood policing but across the board. People who take time out to be part of police forces can bring all kinds of additional skills. We are working on what more can be done to support specials and their recruitment, which has plummeted in recent years. It is important that that trend is turned around.