Martin has spoken out in favour of Sara Thornton, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council who has said that the police need to re-focus more on dealing with such issues as burglary and violent crime rather than allegations against dead people and some lesser hate crimes.
Speaking in the House of Commons Martin said: The chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, Sara Thornton, is reported in this morning’s media as having suggested that the police should refocus and concentrate more on burglary, shoplifting and violent crime. That is something my constituents would widely support. Will the Leader of the House find time for a debate on this so that the Government can make their position clear?
In response the Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom said: My hon. Friend is quite right to raise the importance of good policing in reducing the number of traditional crimes as well as in dealing with the recent rise in serious violent crimes, such as knife crime and the problem of county lines. He will be aware that we have increased the total investment resources available to the police by over £460 million, and announced a significant increase in counter-terror police funding for next year. It is for police and crime commissioners to decide the priorities in their own areas. My hon. Friend may well wish to seek an Adjournment debate so that he can discuss the issues in his own constituency.
Martin will continue to press the Government on this matter and will be taking up his concerns with the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner. Quite simply people want the police to deal with these serious issues. Martin has been discussing with local retailers their concerns about the increase in shoplifting and their concerns about police response. Our police do a good job but Martin recognises they are stretched and when criminal damage, burglary and the like are on the increase it must be dealt with. Serious hate crime that can lead to violence should not be tolerated but sometimes it can amount to people being rude about someone; do we really want the police involved in these instances?
You can read Sara Thornton’s comments here: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/hard-stretched-police-should-focus-on-core-offences-and-not-deserving-issues-like-hate-crimes-top-a3977401.html