I am very agreeable to that proposal. I pay tribute to the way in which the hon. Gentleman and others have worked with the Government. As he says, in this international world a number of changes are needed to establish a legal framework in which international co-operation can deal with...

I am very agreeable to that proposal. I pay tribute to the way in which the hon. Gentleman and others have worked with the Government. As he says, in this international world a number of changes are needed to establish a legal framework in which international co-operation can deal with...

As is characteristic of the hon. Gentleman, his description of the state of affairs is wrong; it frequently is, I regret to say. However, the Bill offers opportunities to debate all those matters. As a package, the Bill makes a vital contribution to policing and justice from the neighbourhood level...

As is characteristic of the hon. Gentleman, his description of the state of affairs is wrong; it frequently is, I regret to say. However, the Bill offers opportunities to debate all those matters. As a package, the Bill makes a vital contribution to policing and justice from the neighbourhood level...

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that we are widening the sources that might provoke an intervention. That is because, for the sake of argument, something such as the Bichard review of the tragedies at Soham and what happened thereafter is not a ““negative inspection report””, but a serious...

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that we are widening the sources that might provoke an intervention. That is because, for the sake of argument, something such as the Bichard review of the tragedies at Soham and what happened thereafter is not a ““negative inspection report””, but a serious...

First, it has been drawn to my attention by my Front-Bench colleagues that I did not pay appropriate tribute to the Mayor of London for his contribution to the improvement in policing in London, so I shall fill that gap by dutifully so doing. On the matter raised by my...

First, it has been drawn to my attention by my Front-Bench colleagues that I did not pay appropriate tribute to the Mayor of London for his contribution to the improvement in policing in London, so I shall fill that gap by dutifully so doing. On the matter raised by my...

I shall not respond to the general inaccuracies, but does the hon. Gentleman mean that he intends to give responsibility for the police in London to the Mayor of London?

I shall not respond to the general inaccuracies, but does the hon. Gentleman mean that he intends to give responsibility for the police in London to the Mayor of London?

As my hon. Friend has said, that partnership is central to the proposal. When we fight crime, it is not simply a matter for the police—it is a matter for the police working with every agency concerned. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety has...

As my hon. Friend has said, that partnership is central to the proposal. When we fight crime, it is not simply a matter for the police—it is a matter for the police working with every agency concerned. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety has...

The Bill does not specifically concern the force amalgamations in the west midlands to which my hon. Friend has referred. West Midlands police, Staffordshire police and Warwickshire police are strongly in favour of the change, and West Mercia police is not, which is why I gave notice last week that...

The Bill does not specifically concern the force amalgamations in the west midlands to which my hon. Friend has referred. West Midlands police, Staffordshire police and Warwickshire police are strongly in favour of the change, and West Mercia police is not, which is why I gave notice last week that...

That perception is utterly wrong. When a major issue such as a tragic murder arises in a small police force area such as that of West Mercia police, the only way to deal with the matter effectively is to move people from the neighbourhood level. The development of strategic policing...

That perception is utterly wrong. When a major issue such as a tragic murder arises in a small police force area such as that of West Mercia police, the only way to deal with the matter effectively is to move people from the neighbourhood level. The development of strategic policing...

I will give way in a moment, as is my practice, but I shall make some more progress before doing so. The Bill establishes a standard set of powers for police community support officers. We believe that their introduction has been a success and that taking that forward with a...

I will give way in a moment, as is my practice, but I shall make some more progress before doing so. The Bill establishes a standard set of powers for police community support officers. We believe that their introduction has been a success and that taking that forward with a...

I will not give way for the moment. This means instilling a modern culture of respect at the neighbourhood level. The respect action plan set out a package of practical measures, which the Bill takes forward, to address the issue head on.

I will not give way for the moment. This means instilling a modern culture of respect at the neighbourhood level. The respect action plan set out a package of practical measures, which the Bill takes forward, to address the issue head on.

When I come to the end of the phase of my speech to do with neighbourhood policing, I will give way to Members who have comments or questions on that. On parenting orders and contracts, we believe that effective parenting is one of the key drivers in preventing children from...

When I come to the end of the phase of my speech to do with neighbourhood policing, I will give way to Members who have comments or questions on that. On parenting orders and contracts, we believe that effective parenting is one of the key drivers in preventing children from...

Local policing is central to neighbourhood policing and other matters. One of the exciting things that is happening in many parts of the country—I believe that that includes West Yorkshire—is opening police facilities in a wide range of areas such as schools, shopping centres and so on. Chief constables must...

Local policing is central to neighbourhood policing and other matters. One of the exciting things that is happening in many parts of the country—I believe that that includes West Yorkshire—is opening police facilities in a wide range of areas such as schools, shopping centres and so on. Chief constables must...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. The central objective of the Bill is to help build safer communities, and the Bill seeks to do that in two ways—first, by taking forward our agenda for delivering real, sustained and lasting reforms to the police...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. The central objective of the Bill is to help build safer communities, and the Bill seeks to do that in two ways—first, by taking forward our agenda for delivering real, sustained and lasting reforms to the police...

It is for that reason that the memorandum and guidance notes for the Bill set out in great detail precisely which powers will be held by PCSOs and which will not on the standardised basis. It is fair to say that many in the police, including some police officers, as...

It is for that reason that the memorandum and guidance notes for the Bill set out in great detail precisely which powers will be held by PCSOs and which will not on the standardised basis. It is fair to say that many in the police, including some police officers, as...

That is a fair point that some PCSOs have raised with me directly from their personal experience. That is why we have set out a detailed schedule that will be debated in Committee. However, given the hon. Gentleman’s contribution, I hope that he will acknowledge that setting things out in...

That is a fair point that some PCSOs have raised with me directly from their personal experience. That is why we have set out a detailed schedule that will be debated in Committee. However, given the hon. Gentleman’s contribution, I hope that he will acknowledge that setting things out in...

I cannot speak about the specific case that the hon. Gentleman mentions. However, we propose the reorganisation of police authorities to reduce the pressures that can lead to moving a particular, respected local police officer to another locality. The purpose of the Bill is to make matters work in the...

I cannot speak about the specific case that the hon. Gentleman mentions. However, we propose the reorganisation of police authorities to reduce the pressures that can lead to moving a particular, respected local police officer to another locality. The purpose of the Bill is to make matters work in the...

The hon. Gentleman puts the matter correctly—PCSOs are an addition, not a replacement. The PCSOs have been brought into the service under the command of the police as an addition to police officers. Of course, they need the appropriate training to deal with their responsibilities.

The hon. Gentleman puts the matter correctly—PCSOs are an addition, not a replacement. The PCSOs have been brought into the service under the command of the police as an addition to police officers. Of course, they need the appropriate training to deal with their responsibilities.

I shall deal specifically with that shortly because the coterminosity of the basic command unit and the local district council is critical. I accept my hon. Friend’s implicit criticism—the performance of community safety partnerships has been patchy throughout the country. I could take him to some where genuinely outstanding work...

I shall deal specifically with that shortly because the coterminosity of the basic command unit and the local district council is critical. I accept my hon. Friend’s implicit criticism—the performance of community safety partnerships has been patchy throughout the country. I could take him to some where genuinely outstanding work...

I agree very much with my hon. Friend. That is one aspect of the Government’s record in relation to policing of which we can be most proud. This is not historic: the Metropolitan police will establish the neighbourhood policing teams in London up to more than a year ahead of...

I agree very much with my hon. Friend. That is one aspect of the Government’s record in relation to policing of which we can be most proud. This is not historic: the Metropolitan police will establish the neighbourhood policing teams in London up to more than a year ahead of...

We have already addressed this issue across the Floor of the House, and it is not a matter that is directly part of the Bill. As I said to the hon. Gentleman both across the Floor and privately, I will give him the guarantee that when we have proposals to...

We have already addressed this issue across the Floor of the House, and it is not a matter that is directly part of the Bill. As I said to the hon. Gentleman both across the Floor and privately, I will give him the guarantee that when we have proposals to...