For a number of years protests have been taking place outside of the BPAS Birmingham South Robert Clinic on Station Road. Due to a growing number of concerns from residents, staff and patients of the clinic, the Council has launched a consultation on the introduction of PSPO, the PSPO is drawn from Beaumont Road to Northfield Road, with the clinic andContinue reading Robert Clinic PSPO Consultation
There’s a fine line between oversight, in a democracy, and interference in operational police decisions, especially if it benefits the interests of those in power. I was surprised to hear cabinet minister Kwasi Kwarteng dismiss fraud as not being real crime. He was speaking after the UK Statistics Authority criticised the Prime Minister for claimingContinue reading It was wrong to overlook fraud
This week Parliament discussed neighbourhood policing. It took me back to my old boss Charles Clarke who, as Home Secretary in 2005, wanted to increase police numbers and lower costs by reshaping and reducing the overall number of forces. He’d received a report from Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary arguing that the existing structure wasn’tContinue reading 2-tier police force could patrol our streets and fight organised crime
As chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Retail Crime, I was very pleased to see the amendment made in the House of Lords last week to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which will make an attack on anyone providing a public service or duty, including shop workers, an aggravated offence which willContinue reading Better protection for our shop workers
There are many questions and some quite astonishing proposals following the life sentence given to the evil murderer of Sarah Everard. The Met Police said any woman who feels threatened should try to flag down a bus. There were the unbelievable remarks, of the Tory Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, that women needContinue reading Wrong to shift responsibility on to victims
There was a statement in Parliament on rape offences earlier this week. The Justice Secretary expressed sorrow at the news that in only 1.6% of rape cases is someone charged. He then toured TV studios saying it was nothing to do with him and objecting to criticism from Labour. The Ministry of Justice budget includesContinue reading Rape cases hurt by cuts
I recently received an email from an irate constituent. His car, parked outside his home, was damaged in an attempted theft. Fortunately, a neighbour witnessed the incident and managed to note the registration of the getaway vehicle. Three days later, the police hadn’t given any indication they intended to pursue the matter. They hadn’t evenContinue reading Police must hear priorities of the public
I SEE that former Post Office boss, Paula Vennells, has stepped down from Morrisons and Dunelm following the Court of Appeal decision to overturn the convictions of 39 sub-postmasters, taking the total to 51 quashed convictions with a further 22 under review and others pending in Scotland. More than 700 people have been prosecuted forContinue reading Put right the suffering of those sent to prison
Many people have contacted me in response to events over the weekend and I share your shock and concern about the pictures I have seen of police action in Clapham at the vigil in memory of Sarah Everard. I am also extremely conscious of the need for significant improvements in the judicial response to violenceContinue reading Police, Crime, sentencing and courts bill
Our justice system is the latest place for coronavirus to rear its ugly head. There’s now a backlog of 54,000 cases at Crown Courts and it could be four years before those accused of crimes such as rape, violent assault and robbery come to trial. That’s a long time, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ asContinue reading Courts crisis: What are the contingency plans?
