New Crime and Policing Bill to Enhance Police Powers in England and Wales
Legislation introduces measures for swift recovery of stolen goods and addresses rising street crime.
The UK government has introduced a new crime and policing bill aiming to bolster police powers in England and Wales, particularly concerning the recovery of stolen electronic devices.
Among its key provisions is a controversial measure allowing police to search properties without a warrant for stolen phones and other electronically geotagged items.
This legislation, which will be presented before parliament on Tuesday, encompasses a wide range of initiatives focusing on lower-level offences such as theft and anti-social behaviour.
Notable elements already announced include the establishment of a new offence specifically targeting assaults against retail workers and measures aimed at combating the exploitation of children forced into drug selling.
Some proposals in the bill have been adapted from a previous, unsuccessful criminal justice bill proposed by the Conservative Party, including prohibiting the use of flares and excessive facial coverings at demonstrations, and criminalising the act of climbing certain war memorials.
The new warrant provisions will enable police officers to enter premises if there is tangible evidence, determined by location tracking, that a stolen item is present.
This applies in situations where it would be impractical to secure a court warrant.
The primary target is expected to be mobile phones, particularly in cases where the 'find my phone' function indicates a phone's location.
This provision can also extend to other stolen items traceable via mobile signals, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or tracking devices such as AirTags, which can include vehicles and agricultural machinery.
In an announcement regarding the bill, the Home Office stated that these changes would empower police to act rapidly within the critical initial investigative phase, often referred to as the 'golden hour'.
The bill’s first reading in the House of Commons will occur without a vote, as part of its formal introduction into the legislative process.
Other initiatives in the proposed bill feature new so-called 'respect orders', which could result in jail sentences of up to two years for individuals consistently engaging in antisocial behaviour, as well as enhanced police authority to seize vehicles used in such conduct.
Alongside the creation of the new offence addressing assaults on shop workers, the bill seeks to repeal existing laws that categorize shoplifting of items valued under £200 as a less serious offence.
Additionally, it aims to formally recognize the act of drink spiking as a specific crime and outlaw 'cuckooing', a practice where criminals exploit the homes of vulnerable individuals for illicit activities.
The legislation also incorporates recommendations from Alexis Jay’s report on child abuse gangs, mandating that certain adults in specified roles must report instances of child abuse in England.
Further elements from the Conservative’s previous bill include adjustments to protest regulations, expanding law enforcement’s access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) records, and establishing a distinct offence concerning the creation of explicit images without consent.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper asserted that the bill reflects a significant commitment to addressing rising street crime and antisocial behaviour.
In her remarks, she highlighted the longstanding challenges that communities face regarding crime in town centres and the need to restore public safety and trust in law enforcement.
Among its key provisions is a controversial measure allowing police to search properties without a warrant for stolen phones and other electronically geotagged items.
This legislation, which will be presented before parliament on Tuesday, encompasses a wide range of initiatives focusing on lower-level offences such as theft and anti-social behaviour.
Notable elements already announced include the establishment of a new offence specifically targeting assaults against retail workers and measures aimed at combating the exploitation of children forced into drug selling.
Some proposals in the bill have been adapted from a previous, unsuccessful criminal justice bill proposed by the Conservative Party, including prohibiting the use of flares and excessive facial coverings at demonstrations, and criminalising the act of climbing certain war memorials.
The new warrant provisions will enable police officers to enter premises if there is tangible evidence, determined by location tracking, that a stolen item is present.
This applies in situations where it would be impractical to secure a court warrant.
The primary target is expected to be mobile phones, particularly in cases where the 'find my phone' function indicates a phone's location.
This provision can also extend to other stolen items traceable via mobile signals, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or tracking devices such as AirTags, which can include vehicles and agricultural machinery.
In an announcement regarding the bill, the Home Office stated that these changes would empower police to act rapidly within the critical initial investigative phase, often referred to as the 'golden hour'.
The bill’s first reading in the House of Commons will occur without a vote, as part of its formal introduction into the legislative process.
Other initiatives in the proposed bill feature new so-called 'respect orders', which could result in jail sentences of up to two years for individuals consistently engaging in antisocial behaviour, as well as enhanced police authority to seize vehicles used in such conduct.
Alongside the creation of the new offence addressing assaults on shop workers, the bill seeks to repeal existing laws that categorize shoplifting of items valued under £200 as a less serious offence.
Additionally, it aims to formally recognize the act of drink spiking as a specific crime and outlaw 'cuckooing', a practice where criminals exploit the homes of vulnerable individuals for illicit activities.
The legislation also incorporates recommendations from Alexis Jay’s report on child abuse gangs, mandating that certain adults in specified roles must report instances of child abuse in England.
Further elements from the Conservative’s previous bill include adjustments to protest regulations, expanding law enforcement’s access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) records, and establishing a distinct offence concerning the creation of explicit images without consent.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper asserted that the bill reflects a significant commitment to addressing rising street crime and antisocial behaviour.
In her remarks, she highlighted the longstanding challenges that communities face regarding crime in town centres and the need to restore public safety and trust in law enforcement.
