Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rupa Huq and Sarah Dines

Wednesday 26th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Miss Dines]

The Government are looking carefully and speaking to stakeholders about spiking. There are adequate criminal offences for this sort of behaviour, and we have had some quite high-profile convictions. However, the hon. Lady is right to highlight the issue. The Government will review it. Specific funding has been given, and there is better testing. Evidence is important, but we need to get women and girls, and men and boys, to come forward when they have been spiked. Spiking also affects older people; I read a case the other day of someone in their 40s who was spiked. It is essential that we work in this area.

[Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab)]

2. What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the implications of the findings of the independent review by Baroness Casey into the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police Service for people with protected characteristics.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Miss Sarah Dines)]

The Casey review made for sobering reading about deeply disturbing allegations of racism, misogyny and homophobia in the Met. The Home Secretary and the Prime Minister have been clear that urgent improvements must be delivered. I have confidence that the Met Commissioner is leading in this area. I have also met Dame Lynne Owens, who is doing great work. We want to see improvement and we must have it.

[Dr Huq]

With the Police Federation now accepting that there is institutional racism, plus the vile sexism detailed by Casey and the damning fire brigade reports, will the Government order an urgent inquiry into cultures among uniformed officers, to keep workplaces and the public safe?

[Miss Dines]

Workplaces and the public must be safe, but I have confidence that work is going on, across the whole country but particularly in the Met, to ensure that racism is not accepted. Unfortunately, the Mayor has taken his eye off the ball; under him, crime, including issues of racism, rose by 10%. The Labour party is weak on crime and it is this Government who are holding the Met to account.