I very much welcome the government’s new Crime and Policing Bill. This will make our streets safer and provide the police with new and stronger powers and resources needed to tackle crime.
This Bill represents a critical step forward to address the most serious issues affecting society today.
It will play a vital role in tackling the epidemic of serious violence, knife crime, stalking, spiking, child sexual abuse, and violence against women and girls and terrorist threats. Crimes that are of grave concern in Bedfordshire.
The Bill very much reflects the priorities set out in my own Police and Crime plan for Bedfordshire.
Under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, Bedfordshire will receive new money towards a four-year increase in community policing officers and PCSOs, starting with 20 additional community officers and eight new PCSOs in 2025/26.
By equipping the police service with stronger resources and enforcement tools, these government initiatives will not only help to address violent crime but should also increase public confidence in policing and the wider criminal justice system.
Further resources and enforcement powers will help the police to tackle town centre and street crime and persistent anti-social behaviour more effectively, particularly as we expand our community policing teams. These are important issues in Bedford, Luton and across the county.
The Bill’s provisions to combat antisocial behaviour, retail crime, and shop theft resonate with the concerns that I hear when I speak to residents, businesses, and shop owners in Bedfordshire.
Protection for shops and retail workers
I am very pleased that the Bill will strengthen the protection of shops and other retail workers through a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker. This sends a very clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
Tougher enforcement activity against perpetrators of child sexual exploitation and violence against women and children is vital, as well as offering better protection for victims.
This is already an important issue for Bedfordshire Police and our partners so new powers will further improve the protection of vulnerable people.
I had already called for violence against women and children to be tackled in ways commonly used to address terrorism, so I am pleased that Bill makes this possible.
Stalking is on the increase in the county so it is pleasing that the Bill will introduce new stronger Stalking Protection Orders, it includes proposals for a new criminal offence covering spiking.
I am pleased that I am able to work with a government committed to making our country and Bedfordshire safer.
The Crime and Policing Bill represents a bold and necessary step in the fight against crime, and I look forward to collaborating with the police service and local partners as we continue to protect our communities, ensuring a safer and fairer Bedfordshire.
This is a monthly guest column provided by
elected Police and Crime Commissioner, John Tizard (Labour).
It is published unedited and does
not reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.
