MP on the problem of anti-social behaviour and the investigation into his conduct in Parliament

The epideMiC of antisocial behaviour under the Tories continues, and not all of it involving their ‘lockdowning street’ parties!

There were 1.1 million anti-social behaviour incidents last year, that’s 3,000 a day and it is a serious issue raised with me every week. I am holding a meeting in south Bermondsey with council representatives, local police and people affected.

Some dismiss antisocial behaviour as ‘low level’ but it blights lives, provides funds and participants for other serious crimes and has been deprioritised under the Tories who cut 23,000 police officers and PCSOs without considering the consequences or damage to communities across the country. In Southwark, anti-social behaviour includes what police call ‘cuckooing’ where criminals take advantage of an isolated or vulnerable person, usually older or with addiction issues, and use their property to commit a range of crimes, often involving drugs. Colin Wingrove, Southwark’s outgoing Borough Commander, deserves credit for pursuing new methods to tackle this crime and it is a shame to lose him from Southwark but he goes upwards to Scotland

Yard in the next step of his career. If antisocial behaviour is affecting your neighbourhood, then please let me or your councillors know. There are means to tackle the problems but I am also seeking greater powers for the police and social landlords like councils to tackle cuckooing and other problems. Labour would provide 13,000 dedicated neighbourhood police to help address the issue if the next election propels the Tories into the obliteration they deserve for the damage they’ve done to our economy and country.

In personal news, I’m expecting the parliamentary investigation’s report