- Crime & Policing Bill to implement new measures to tackle antisocial behaviour, shop theft and street crime
- Providing local police and communities with new powers
- Taking back town centres from thugs and thieves
Through the Crime and Policing Bill, completing its path through Parliament, the Government will protect Portsmouth’s own local businesses.
City MP Stephen Morgan has said this bill will introduce a comprehensive set of new measures will tackle antisocial behaviour, shop theft and street crime head on, giving Portsmouth’s police and communities new powers to take back town centres from thugs and thieves.
Among others, measures within the bill protecting local business include:
- Introducing a new offence for assaulting a retail worker, giving workers in shops the protection they need
- Removing legislation making shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft will be taken seriously
- Giving the police and others stronger powers to tackle antisocial behaviour by introducing Respect Orders
Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“Every day Portsmouth’s retail workers play a vital role across our city by helping to keep not just our high streets but also our community alive.
“The Crime & Policing Bill will protect local shops and retail workers by taking back Portsmouth’s streets.
“This new law will tackle antisocial behaviour, shop theft and street crime with bold action in our community, issues that retail workers have unfortunately faced increasingly across recent years.
“I was proud to back the bill in Westminster this week as it completes its path through Parliament.”
Mr Morgan has committed to taking further action to protect local businesses within Portsmouth by bringing local small businesses together, more detail to follow in the coming weeks.
