I know that tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is massively important to people right across Selby and Kippax. Criminality impacts people regardless of background, income, age or location.
That’s why I’m passionate about make sure we are tough on tackling crime. From rural crime, like lamping, use of off-road bikes on fields or theft of agricultural equipment, to urban crimes like shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
In my time as an Assistant Government Whip, I was proud to play my part in steering the Crime and Policing Bill through Parliament. Working with an excellent team of colleagues in the House of Commons, we were able to get legislation that will tackle serious violence, equip the police with the powers that they need to combat antisocial behaviour on our streets and crack down on child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Throughout that Bill’s passage through Parliament, I was thinking about all the people in Selby and Kippax impacted by crime. Local people’s views inform everything I do in Westminster, and I’m glad we’re one step closer to getting this crucial piece of legislation on the statute book.
Last year, I made a pledge to make our streets safer. In May, I held a week of action where I spoke to local people impacted by crime and anti-social behaviour. Since then, I’ve been working hard with the Police to ensure that community concerns are heard.
I’m pleased to say that we’ve had a major uplift in funding for neighbourhood policing, with 32 extra constables for North Yorkshire and an increased presence across the Outer East area of Leeds. North Yorkshire Police have also launched Operation Tornado, which is an extensive, proactive exercise for the Selby area – with operations like these, we get one step closer to putting neighbourhood police back at the heart of communities.
My top priority will always be fighting for the interests of local residents, so I’ll keep working with the police and with Deputy Mayors Jo Coles and Alison Lowe respectively as they keep developing their plans for policing in our area.