Home Secretary challenged over anti-social behaviour

Helen Morgan challenged the Home Secretary on the Government’s plans to tackle anti-social behaviour after a spate of incidents in North Shropshire.

The Liberal Democrat MP called for extra police officers to be put on patrol in towns like Oswestry, Whitchurch, Wem, Market Drayton and Ellesmere.

Helen has been working to help a variety of residents who have raised concerns about crime issues across the constituency in recent months.

Issues with theft, drug taking and anti-social behaviour in Oswestry led to a public meeting where the Police and Crime Commissioner was challenged over what is being done to tackle the crime.

Shop workers in the town centre have reported the same culprits repeatedly targeting their stores, while residents have also been troubled by drug taking and dealing in public spaces.

A rise in anti-social behaviour has also been reported by people living in towns across the constituency.

Helen has been liaising closely with West Mercia Police over plans to tackle the crime but wants to see officer numbers boosted in North Shropshire so that local teams have the resources they need to tackle crime quickly.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said, "Anti-social behaviour needs stamping out of Shropshire. But to do that our local police teams need support.

“Neighbourhood officers are in short supply after a decade of neglect by the Conservative Government and the impact of that is being felt across North Shropshire.

“Crime in West Mercia went up by 21 per cent last year – a figure that shows the impact of the Conservatives’ cuts.

“People in Oswestry, Whitchurch and Market Drayton need more local officers and faster response times so that the yobs blighting our towns can be dealt with properly.”

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Notes

Transcript of exchange between Helen Morgan and Home Secretary:

Speaking in the House of Commons, Helen Morgan said:

“I recently attended an open meeting in Oswestry in my constituency where residents expressed their concern about escalating anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

“The Police and Crime Commissioner was there. I'm afraid to say he was a little bit dismissive. Can the Home Secretary assure me that when these new police officers materialise, they'll be properly allocated to market towns in rural places like North Shropshire so that the anti-social behaviour is dealt with effectively?”

In response, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

“Well, it's thanks to this government's commitment to increasing the number of police officers that we will have many more resources on the front line in forces throughout the country to tackle anti-social behaviour. I only wish you'd get behind our plans.”