Debates between Rupa Huq and Mike Penning during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Safer Neighbourhood Policing: London

Debate between Rupa Huq and Mike Penning
Tuesday 5th January 2016

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Rupa Huq Portrait Dr Huq
- Hansard - -

Okay; I apologise to the Minister.

Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I apologise; that was inappropriate of me. If the hon. Lady says “you” in her speech, it refers not to me but the Chair. I cannot do anything anyhow, because that is for the commissioner.

Rupa Huq Portrait Dr Huq
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My apologies. I am a rookie MP, so the terminology is still new to me.

The 27% reduction in the MOPAC 7 crimes in Ealing is good news for the Minister, and I am sure he will welcome it. However, communities and boroughs need dedicated PCSOs. That is vital to our police service. Each of the 32 boroughs in London needs their own chief superintendent and command team. We as MPs need to work hand in glove with the police dedicated to our patches.

I will be brief—I only intended to make an intervention, but it has turned into a speech. The money may have been found down the back of the sofa so that it can be said there are no police cuts, but there are lingering doubts about what the shape of the police force will look like and that the worst could be yet to come, so I would like some clarification on the issue of the borough model.