Crime and Policing Bill (Fourth sitting)

Jo Platt Excerpts

Committee stage
Tuesday 1st April 2025 Public Bill Committees

[David Burton-Sampson]

I appreciate the hon. Lady’s point, but the key is to get these vehicles as soon as they are spotted on the streets.

[Jo Platt (Leigh and Atherton) (Lab/Co-op)]

My hon. Friend is making an excellent point. Where the community comes in is a game changer, because it is all about intelligence. What will make the difference in seizing these off-road bikes is the police working with our local authorities and communities.

[David Burton-Sampson]

Absolutely. I could not have said it better myself.

We need to get this provision into law as quickly as possible, as part of this whole raft of changes. The police need to be able to act promptly when they see these ridiculous vehicles causing so many problems on our roads and in our communities.

Crime and Policing Bill (Second sitting)

Jo Platt Excerpts

Committee stage
Thursday 27th March 2025 Public Bill Committees

[The Chair]

Baroness Newlove, is there anything you think we should add?

Baroness Newlove: No, I will leave it to the expert.

[Jo Platt (Leigh and Atherton) (Lab/Co-op)]

Q Thank you for attending. I want to address the breach of protection orders. This question is more for Suky. I have been dealing with a case in Wigan, where the victim’s ex-partner committed the most heinous crime. Given that more than half of stalking victims are targeted by former intimate partners, do you think the Bill goes far enough in addressing breach of protection orders, or could it go further?

Suky Bhaker: I think it could go further. That breaches are not being prosecuted robustly enough was something that the super-complaint committee picked up quite clearly. To that end we feel that there needs to be minimum sentencing in place for breaches to ensure that there is a clear deterrent to perpetrators—that this order holds weight and if it is breached, you will be prosecuted.

[Matt Bishop]

Q Baroness Newlove, given that intimate image abuse disproportionately affects women and girls, how do you think the changes will specifically help to address the unique challenges that they face in seeking justice and support?

Baroness Newlove: It is all about regulations. As the Victims’ Commissioner, I am working closely with Ofcom. It feels very much that this is designed for individuals. It is not designed to really get the tech companies to show up and do what they are supposed to do. We need to get more of the tech companies to take more responsibility and not leave it to the party who has been damaged.

Oral Answers to Questions

Jo Platt Excerpts

Monday 29th July 2024 Commons Chamber

[Leigh Ingham (Stafford) (Lab)]

16. What steps her Department is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour.

[Jo Platt (Leigh and Atherton) (Lab/Co-op)]

17. What steps her Department is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour.

[The Minister of State, Home Department (Dame Diana Johnson)]

Antisocial behaviour is blighting high streets and town centres right across the country, and our communities are paying the price. That is why this Government have made tackling it a top priority. We will restore neighbourhood policing, putting bobbies back on the beat in every corner of the country, and we will introduce new respect orders so that the police can get repeat offenders off our streets.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I am very aware of this issue and, as I said in an earlier response, we want to make sure that there is swift action to deal with it. We think the neighbourhood policing guarantee, getting police officers back on to the beat to see what is going on, will provide that reassurance. Stopping antisocial behaviour is key and we will make sure that that happens, but I am happy to discuss it with my hon. Friend as well.

[Jo Platt]

I welcome my right hon. Friend and her team to their places, and I thank the Home Secretary for visiting Leigh prior to the election to acknowledge the issues that we face in our towns. As my right hon. Friend knows, our town centres are struggling with persistent antisocial behaviour, often fuelled by drugs and alcohol abuse. That is placing a significant strain on our police force, deterring residents from visiting the towns and causing unease in the business community. I welcome the Home Secretary’s measures for more policing, but for fear of just moving the problem along, will my right hon. Friend outline the potential for collaboration among support agencies to better manage the complex nature of these offences?

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I thank my hon. Friend; how nice it is to see her back in her place in this House. Of course, collaboration will be key to tackling antisocial behaviour. In line with our manifesto, we will be introducing powerful new respect orders, giving the police greater powers to get persistent antisocial offenders off our streets. We will also introduce zero tolerance zones through a form of expedited public space protection orders, to prevent antisocial street drinking or local drug dealing, for example, from blighting particular areas.