PM to unveil ‘crime beating plan’ as he emerges from isolation

Published

4 years ago

July 25, 2021

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The prime minister will emerge from isolation this coming week and deliver what is being billed as his new “beating crime plan”.

Boris Johnson, who will finish his quarantine period at his Chequers country retreat on Monday, is seeking to get back on the front foot as he begins his third year as prime minister.

Headlines in recent days have focused on the toll of the so-called “pingdemic”, the number of people isolating after being identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

There has been anger and calls for exemptions from isolation for a range of key workers.

The government announced that people in frontline roles such as police, fire and the Border Force will now be able to avoid quarantine regardless of their vaccine status, as part of an expansion of workplace testing in England.

It comes as Health Secretary Sajid Javid, whose positive COVID diagnosis prompted Mr Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak to isolate after they were identified as close contacts, faces criticism for saying people should no longer “cower from” the virus.

The double-jabbed Mr Javid made the comment in a tweet revealing he had made a “full recovery” from COVID a week after testing positive.

The prime minister and chancellor initially said they were taking part in a daily-test pilot scheme that would see them skip isolation, but this decision was reversed within a matter of hours after a backlash.

Meanwhile, the Police Federation of England and Wales has said it no longer has confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The body, which represents rank-and-file officers, said a police pay freeze was the “final straw”.

Amid this backdrop, Mr Johnson will promise that every victim of crime will have a “named officer to call – someone who is immediately on your side”.

Writing in the Sunday Express newspaper, Mr Johnson said: “We need now to redouble our efforts, to continue to put more police out on the street, and to back them all the way.”

The prime minister also said the government will ensure that league tables are published for 101 and 999 call answering times, dedicate more officers to tackling the “tiny minority of truant kids” and redoubling efforts to combat county lines drug gangs.

Politics

Trump’s tariffs may lead to savings for Americans through tax cuts: Research

Published

15 hours ago

February 22, 2025

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Trump’s tariffs may lead to savings for Americans through tax cuts: Research

Prior to the 16th Amendment, which was ratified in 1913, the United States did not have a permanent income tax levied on citizens.

Politics

Jess Phillips says there’s ‘no place’ where violence against women ‘doesn’t happen’ – as spiking to become new offence

Published

1 day ago

February 22, 2025

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Jess Phillips says there's 'no place' where violence against women 'doesn't happen' - as spiking to become new offence

Jess Phillips has said “there is no place” where violence against women and girls “doesn’t happen” – as a new law is set to make spiking a criminal offence.

Earlier on Friday, the government said spiking will now be its own offence with a possible 10-year prison sentence as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, which will be introduced in parliament next week.

It also announced a nationwide training programme to help workers spot and prevent attacks.

Speaking to Sky News correspondent Ashna Hurynag, the safeguarding minister said that while spiking is already illegal under existing laws, the new classification will simplify reporting the act for victims.

“Spiking is illegal – that isn’t in question, but what victims and campaigners who have tried to use the legislation as it currently is have told us is that it’s unclear,” Ms Phillips said.

UK ‘was never safe’ for women

When asked if the UK is becoming a less safe place for women, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: “I don’t think it’s becoming less safe, if I’m being honest. I think it was never safe.”

Speaking about a rise in coverage, Ms Phillips said: “We have a real opportunity to use that, the sense of feeling [built by campaigners] in the country, to really push forward political change in this space.”

“The reality is that it doesn’t matter whether it’s the House of Commons or any pub in your local high street – there is no place where violence against women and girls doesn’t happen, I’m afraid,” she added.

Spiking is when someone is given drugs or alcohol without them knowing or consenting, either by someone putting something in their drink or using a needle.

Police in England and Wales received 6,732 reports of spiking in the year up to April 2023 – with 957 of those relating to needle spiking.

London’s Metropolitan Police added that reports of spiking had increased by 13% in 2023, with 1,383 allegations.

As part of the nationwide training programme, a £250,000 government-funded scheme was started last week to teach staff how to spot warning signs of spiking crimes, prevent incidents and gather evidence.

It aims to train 10,000 staff at pubs, clubs and bars for free by April this year.

Alex Davies-Jones, minister for victims and violence against women and girls, said in a statement that “no one should feel afraid to go out at night” or “have to take extreme precautions to keep themselves safe when they do”.

“To perpetrators, my message is clear: spiking is vile and illegal and we will stop you,” he said. “To victims or those at risk, we want you to know: the law is on your side. Come forward and help us catch these criminals.”

Colin Mackie, founder of Spike Aware UK, also said the charity is “delighted with the steps being taken by the government to combat spiking”.

He added: “Spiking can happen anywhere, but these new initiatives are the first steps to making it socially unacceptable and we urge anyone that suspects or sees it happening, not to remain silent.”