Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Halfon Excerpts
Monday 17th November 2014

(10 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness Featherstone Portrait The Minister for Crime Prevention (Lynne Featherstone)
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I could not agree more with the hon. Gentleman, but I do not think that the Opposition should even begin to criticise the Government on this, because we have done more in two years than was done in the 13 years of the Labour Government. Prosecutions are important, and the first one will come to court after the new year, but our focus has to be on prevention and protection, and it is.

Robert Halfon Portrait Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con)
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My hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) and I have recently written to the Home Office about the problem of illegal encampments in Harlow and Thurrock, and about the police response to them. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this matter, and will he set out the powers that the police have to deal with illegal or unauthorised Travellers’ encampments?

Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
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I would be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend and my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price). I know both those areas well and I would be happy to talk to my hon. Friends at their convenience.