Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan has warmly welcomed a summer police blitz targeting crime and antisocial behaviour as the Home Secretary launches a major nationwide crackdown on high street crime affecting local shoppers and businesses across the city during peak times.
The crackdown – featuring officers deployed to the seafront and hotspots of antisocial behaviour during busy periods – has been endorsed by Stephen Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South.
Over 500 towns and cities have joined the Home Secretary’s Safer Streets summer offensive, with Portsmouth among them.
These locations will witness enhanced police patrols and local measures to combat antisocial behaviour. The heightened police visibility will be supported by stronger prevention and enforcement measures from police, councils and other local partners.
During the previous administration, shoplifting reached unprecedented levels, with a dramatic 70% rise in their final two years alone.
Local Police and Crime Commissioners have created tailored local action strategies with police, businesses, and local councils aimed at helping town centres become thriving destinations where people want to live, work and spend time.
These strategies encompass enhanced visible town centre policing and increasing the deployment of targeted enforcement powers against troublemakers – including excluding offenders from problem areas. Fourteen years of Conservative rule saw neighbourhood policing devastated.
PCSO numbers were cut by half, whilst Special Constable figures were reduced by two-thirds.
The offensive forms part of the Labour Government’s Plan for Change, which will also deploy 13,000 additional police personnel in neighbourhood positions during this Parliament, supported by a £200m funding boost in the first year.
Due to this investment, Hampshire will receive an extra 65 officers this year.
The summer scheme will also assist young people, ensuring activities are available across the 500 towns for young people to participate in throughout the holidays.
The Home Office, working with police, retailers and industry are also introducing a new Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy, which will utilise shared data to help disrupt not only organised criminal gangs, but all categories of perpetrators including prolific offenders who steal to fund addiction and ‘opportunistic’ offenders.
Developing flourishing town centres where businesses and communities can prosper supports the government’s growth mission, improving living standards, supporting local economies and strengthening communities.
- Amanda Martin Launches Survey for Portsmouth Residents
- Labour’s 10 Year Health Plan Welcomed by Portsmouth North MP
- MP backs £1.5bn plan to boost early years education
Commenting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“The Conservatives devastated neighbourhood policing whilst crimes such as shoplifting and street theft were escalating out of control. That was the Conservative legacy on law and order, and communities like ours in Portsmouth suffered the consequences.
“I welcome this offensive, which will make a genuine difference to my constituents in Portsmouth. We all deserve town centres and high streets free from criminals and thieves.
“As part of this Government’s Plan for Change, we are deploying 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs back onto the streets by the end of Parliament.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“High streets and town centres are the very heart of our communities. Residents and businesses have the right to feel secure in their towns. But the previous government left a surge in shop theft, street crime and antisocial behaviour which has left too many town centres feeling deserted.
“It’s time to reverse this, that’s why I have asked police forces and councils to work together to deliver a summer offensive on town centre crime, to send a clear message to those individuals who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished.
“The fact that Portsmouth has joined demonstrates the strength of feeling locally on this issue.
“Through our Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change, we are putting officers back on the beat where you can see them and making our town centres secure again.”
