Monday Volume 691 22 March 2021 No. 194 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 22 March 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 601 22 MARCH 2021 602 The Secretary of State for the Home Department House of Commons (Priti Patel): Before I answer the question, Mr Speaker, may I join you in paying tribute to PC Keith Palmer? Monday 22 March 2021 Keith was a brave, brave office dedicated to his work and we will always remember him. The House met at half-past Two o’clock Following last week’s meeting of the crime and justice taskforce, chaired by the Prime Minister, the Government have doubled the size of the safer streets fund, which PRAYERS will go towards neighbourhood measures designed to improve public safety and protection. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Felicity Buchan: Knife and gang crime is sadly an Speaker’s Statement issue in my constituency, but, at the same time, two police stations in the north of it are under threat. One is Mr Speaker: I have a short statement to make. Today Notting Hill police station, which the Mayor of London, marks the fourth anniversary of the death of PC Keith Sadiq Khan, is planning to sell—he closed its front Palmer, who died in the line of duty protecting this counter a couple of years ago—and the other is Lancaster Parliament from a terrorist attack. His sacrifice will not Road, where the lease is due to expire. Does my right be forgotten. May I express on behalf of the whole House hon. Friend agree that, given this Government’s huge our sympathy with his family, friends and colleagues on investment in the police, we need physical police stations this sad anniversary? We are grateful every day to the in London and in the north of my constituency? police services in all parts of the country for all that they do. Priti Patel: My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I I gather that there is a technical problem that means pay tribute to her because she is an incredible constituency we cannot proceed immediately with our business today. MP. I spent time with her on patrol, where she joined I am going to suspend the House for 30 minutes while me very much in backing and supporting the police. we seek to resolve the problem. I am incredibly disappointed by what she said about 2.34 pm police stations closing in her constituency. It is a fact that they are a vital lifeline to protect communities Sitting suspended. and the public. She will know that police and crime commissioners are elected to be accountable to the 3.3 pm communities they serve, and with that, they also need to On resuming— be a strong voice when it comes to fighting crime and Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, dealing with, as she rightly highlighted, the issue of 4 June and 30 December 2020). knife crime, drug crime and attacks on young people. [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] Ian Levy [V]: Last year, I oversaw the temporary creation of a mobile police station in Blyth marketplace. Oral Answers to Questions This was very well received by the local residents and retailers in the town, as well as being supported by our fantastic local police force. However, a more permanent fixture, as well as the installation of CCTV, would be HOME DEPARTMENT welcomed by all. Will my right hon. Friend support me, the police and the residents of Blyth Valley in our The Secretary of State was asked— endeavours to create a safer environment for all? Crime Reduction Priti Patel: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I commend him because, again, he is a tour de force Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con): What steps her locally, giving strong voice and representation to safer Department is taking to reduce crime. [913694] streets and safer communities and, again, backing the police. He is right to work with the police locally to Ian Levy (Blyth Valley) (Con): What steps her make sure that more community support and safety Department is taking to reduce crime. [913702] measures come into place. I will support and work with him in whatever way I can. He will also know that when Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Westminster) it comes to the funding for these schemes, the money is (Con): What steps her Department is taking to reduce there from central Government. I urge all police and crime. [913703] crime commissioners to step up and make absolutely sure that they tap into that funding to ensure that these Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con): What steps her measures come into place. Department is taking to reduce crime. [913705] James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con): What steps her Nickie Aiken: May I associate myself with the Department is taking to reduce crime. [913712] remembrance today of PC Palmer and the other victims we lost on that day? I remember coming out of Westminster Robert Largan (High Peak) (Con): What steps her tube at exactly this time four years ago and seeing the Department is taking to reduce crime. [913716] aftermath of that dreadful terrorist attack. 603 Oral Answers 22 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 604 I welcome the reopening of the call for evidence on more police officers within his force and his constituency, violence against women and girls, which I believe now along with the money for the safer streets fund, will go a closes this Friday—26 March—and I encourage as many long way to delivering for his constituents. people to have their say as possible. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital that we listen to victims of Robert Largan [V]: Recently, gangs of bicycle and car violence and all women and girls to really understand thieves have been targeting the High Peak, travelling their experiences in their daily lives, so that we can into the area from Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. ensure that the strategy that the Government finally Derbyshire police is working hard to try to tackle this introduce does tackle violence, harassment and abuse of problem, but can I urge the Home Secretary to do more women and girls? to ensure that the different police forces, including the British Transport police, work more closely together to Priti Patel: My hon. Friend is absolutely right and I tackle the criminal gangs that operate over county lines? echo her call to continue to encourage people to respond to the survey. We have already had in excess of 135,000 Priti Patel: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to people writing in to the survey since it has been reopened. highlight the blended way in which forces should come But there is a fundamental point here: in having people together, because county lines cross boundaries. Whether join that consultation, that public survey, we want their it is the British Transport police, his own police or the views, because their views matter, but so do their personal neighbouring forces, we need them to pull together to experiences. I am talking about personal experiences deal with the level of criminality that he has spoken and insights whether or not someone has been a victim, about. That is taking place on one of the biggest issues which is always a terrible, terrible thing, but also if that faces our country, which is county lines drug gangs. someone has interacted with the system—it could be He will know, from when we have spoken previously, of the criminal justice system, victim support services, the the great operational work that is taking place across police or any aspect of the system. We want that to come our police forces and intelligence agencies to go after together so that we can have the right type of approach the criminals that are out there pursuing such high-harm that gives voice and strength to the type of policies and crimes. the legislation that we bring forward. Sarah Jones (Croydon Central) (Lab): The shadow Home Secretary will speak about the violence last night Rob Butler [V]: Over the past year in Aylesbury Vale, in his remarks. I simply want to say that there is never robberies have fallen by 35% and many more criminals an excuse for violence, and as shadow Policing Minister, have been brought to justice for violent offences. Will my my thoughts are obviously with the police who were on right hon. Friend join me in congratulating the superb duty. I wish them a swift recovery. officers at Thames Valley police’s Aylesbury police station on those achievements, and can she tell the House how Mr Speaker, I want to associate myself with the her Department will ensure that those officers can remarks that you made about PC Keith Palmer and, if I continue to keep those in my local community safe, may, I would also like to send my best wishes to the especially women? Minister for Crime and Policing, the hon. Member for North West Hampshire (Kit Malthouse). I hope he Priti Patel: My hon. Friend will have heard me speaking continues to show no symptoms of covid-19 and that with great praise for Thames Valley police and for its the virus was not passed on to anyone working in the incredible work and dedication, of which there are Home Office. One would hope that this is a lesson to many examples that we have spoken about in the past.