Crimes of Violence: Acids

(asked on 20th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the rate of stop and search policing in response to the increase in acid attacks.


Answered by
Nick Hurd Portrait
Nick Hurd
This question was answered on 27th June 2019

Stop and search is a vital policing tool when used correctly and officers have the Government's full support to use these powers in a way that is fair, lawful and effective.

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 created a new offence of possessing a corrosive substance in a public place. The Act also created a complementary stop and search power to ensure officers are able to enforce this new offence and tackle these devastating crimes effectively.

The Act received Royal Assent on 16 May and we are working to the bring this new power into force by the Autumn.

We are also supporting police with additional funding. On 13 March the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £100 million fund to tackle serious violence. £63.4 million of this funding has already been allocated to 18 police forces worst affected by serious violence to support surge operational activity, such as increased patrols.

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