Minister says '13,000 officers' in local neighbourhoods hold the key to quashing anti-social behaviour
18 November 2024, 20:18 | Updated: 18 November 2024, 23:50
Diana Johnson speaks to Fraser Knight
Labour minister Diana Johnson has told LBC that putting 13,000 police officers back into local communities could hold the key to tackling antisocial behaviour.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
Crime and policing minister Diana Johnson said: “I’m conscious that policing can go so far but there’s much more that as a government we need to do around drugs and access to treatment for those with addiction problems.
"The young futures programme which we put in our manifesto is about providing youth support to people who might be starting to cause problems in their communities, is really important work that we need to do."
It comes just weeks after she had her purse stolen while joining senior police officers to discuss thefts.
Asked by LBC about the lack of police attendance to reports of crime and anti-social behaviour, the minister acknowledged a serious resourcing issue.
“One of the key planks in our manifesto is around the neighbourhood policing model and putting the 13,000 police officers back into our communities to make sure that there’s a presence around."
The minister rejected LBC's questions about Alison Pearson, Harshita Brella and the Al Qaeda ricin cases, with Johnson explaining that protection orders are being put in place.
"We have made a commitment in our manifesto to violence against women and girls over the next decade.
"Clearly there is an epidemic against women and girls in this country and this government is going to start to tackle that. We have waited too long to put in that work."
Asked about e-bikes, Ms Johnson said: “We are going to make it much easier for the police to act and to destroy and get rid of those vehicles that are causing problems to communities."
