Government introduce new laws to crack down on antisocial behaviour and town centre crime, backed by Labour MP Marie Tidball

Marie Tidball, Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has welcomed the new Crime and Policing Bill, which will introduce tough new laws to stamp out antisocial behaviour and town centre crime. The Labour Government’s new law will introduce new measures including brand new Respect Orders and action against shoplifting.  

The new Respect Orders will enable swift enforcement against persistent antisocial behaviour offenders, to ensure our communities are free from harm and nuisance. These Orders were promised in Labour’s 2024 manifesto and are delivered by the new law. The new measures include increased police powers to immediately seize vehicles that cause havoc, allowing them to deal with the scourge of off-road bikes and dangerous e-scooters. 

The Government’s Bill also includes action on shoplifting, including introducing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker. Labour will also scrap the Tory ‘shoplifter’s charter’, a law which created effective immunity for the theft of goods under £200. Evidence shows there were 15,142 incidences of shoplifting in South Yorkshire Police Force Area, around 291 per week.   

In 2023, Conservative Policing Minister Chris Philp was roundly mocked when he urged members of the public to make citizen’s arrests on those they witnessed shoplifting.   

Labour’s bill will also give the police new powers to enter premises without a warrant, which will allow the police to search and seize stolen property swiftly which they believe is at an address. Labour’s action comes as the number of snatch thefts last year reached 85,000 across England and Wales.   

The new measures will be supported by the government’s plan to bring back neighbourhood policing, by recruiting 13,000 additional police officers, with a named officer in every community. The Government have already announced funding of £200 million to kickstart delivery of these roles, including a 6.5% in funding granted by South Yorkshire Police Force Area to deliver the reforms.   

Marie Tidball, Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said:  

“After speaking to constituents on the doorstep, I have raised antisocial issues in our communities with Ministers in Parliament, including local car and van thefts, and noisy and reckless off-road biking.  After fourteen years of Conservative rule, our town centres and neighbourhoods have been plagued by anti-social behaviour, theft and shoplifting. Yet too often the Conservatives wrote off these crimes as ‘low level’ and left communities to deal with the consequences alone.  Whether it’s noisy and intimidating off-road bikes terrorising our estates, street drinking, harassment or vandalism on the high street, my constituents are fed up.  I told the Government about the impact on local businesses and high streets, leaving constituents feeling vulnerable and unsafe. I have pressed the need for action, and so I am delighted to see this delivered.  I warmly welcome the tough new action included in Labour's new law. The flagship Crime and Policing Bill is a vital step towards the safer streets promised in this Government’s Plan for Change”.