Latest news with #CrimeandPolicingBill
North Wales Chronicle
21 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
North Wales PCC Andy Dunbobbin visits Meirionnydd region
Mr Dunbobbin said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Meirionnydd and the beautiful towns of Dolgellau, Tywyn and Aberdyfi. "It is an exceptional area, with so much to offer residents and visitors alike. "Living in the far south of the region, residents tell me they sometimes feel overlooked by public services, but as PCC for the whole of North Wales, I can assure them that their interests are very close to my heart, and that their safety is paramount to me in my role. "While there is always more to do, I was pleased to hear of the increasing confidence that people have in police in the area and that they feel officers are more visible than they previously were." He was joined by Deputy PCC Wayne Jones and PCSO Delyth Edwards during his tour of Gwynedd South, which began at Dolgellau Police Station. The group later travelled to Tywyn to meet Chris Wood, clerk to the community council, where they discussed policing needs and recent developments. One key concern raised was the misuse of e-scooters and e-bikes, particularly in the High Street area. The UK Government's Crime and Policing Bill, introduced to Parliament in February, proposes giving police greater powers to tackle illegal use of e-scooters, including removing the requirement to issue a warning before seizing the vehicles. The visit continued to Aberdovey Golf Club and into Aberdyfi, where the group spoke with business owners, fishermen, and staff from the Eryri National Park visitor centre. Discussions also took place at the Trefeddian Hotel with William Moeran, general manager. Mr Dunbobbin said he valued the feedback and concerns raised by business owners and residents during the visit. District Inspector Iwan Jones said: "As a team, we've worked hard to increase the visibility and presence of police officers and PCSOs across Tywyn and the surrounding villages. "It's encouraging to hear directly from residents that these efforts are making a positive impact. "We recognise that there is always more to be done to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our communities." PCSO Edwards, who hosted the visit, said: "It was a privilege and an honour to accompany and host Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin and his deputy Wayne Jones in the beautiful and picturesque Gwynedd South region." Residents are reminded that they can report crime to North Wales Police via LiveChat on the force website or by calling 101. In an emergency, people are urged to dial 999. Crimes can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Farage pledges target to halve crime if Reform enters government
Proposals to recruit more police officers and create new prison places contribute to the estimated £3.48 billion annual bill for the party's plans on crime and justice. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Farage said: 'Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. 'We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. 'If you're a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice,' he added. Documents handed out at Monday's press conference show that the party estimate a £17.4 billion cost over the course of a five year parliament for their plans, with a £3.48 billion annual cost. Plans to recruit 30,000 more police officers take up the biggest chunk of this bill, estimated at £10.5 billion overall. Mr Farage has pledged 12,400 new prison places on MoD land at a cost of £5 billion, and five new 'Nightingale Prisons' to be built with the assistance of the Army. He also wants to see more than 10,000 more prison places freed up by deporting foreign criminals to their country of origin through bilateral agreements, and Mr Farage claimed he was 'in conversation with Edi Rama', the Albanian prime minister over prisoners. I accept Prime Minister @EdiRamaal's invitation to visit Albania as his guest of honour. We will discuss the return of Albanian prisoners. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) June 30, 2025 The two leaders have been involved in a social media spat over the matter. In a video on social media posted last month, Mr Farage said he would visit Albania and 'report back' after an invitation from Mr Rama. In response, Mr Rama said: 'I genuinely hope your upcoming visit to Albania inspires you to fight for ideas, rather than against people — in the spirit of the great liberal tradition your country has long stood for.' The party also wants prison places overseas in places such as El Salvador, a 'dynamic prisons' policy that the party estimates will cost £1.25 billion over the course of a parliament. Mr Farage said that he would be prepared to take back British criminals who are in foreign prisons as part of his plans. He told reporters at the press conference that 'of course we're prepared to take British prisoners from other parts of the world. 'That's fair, right and proper.' Mr Farage pledged that Monday's event was the start of a six-week campaign on law and order, as Parliament is about to begin its summer recess break. Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves claimed 'Reform is more interested in headline-chasing than serious policy-making in the interests of the British people'. She added: 'Farage's Reform MPs voted against the Labour Government's landmark Crime and Policing Bill which tackles antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, violence against women and girls, knife crime, and child abuse.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Nigel Farage's 'fantasy' plan to cut crime as huge questions remain
Nigel Farage has been accused of peddling a string of 'ill-thought through slogans' after making big promises to tackle crime, with questions over his sums and the impact on prisons Nigel Farage has yet again been accused of peddling "fantasy" plans based on dodgy sums - this time on tackling crime. The Reform leader resorted to "amateur hour" headline-grabbing measures, including sending thousands of prisoners overseas to serve lenghty sentences, critics said. He named El Salavador as an example - but then admitted he hadn't discussed it with the central American nation. Mr Farage claimed it would cost £17.4billion to halve crime in five years, a sum he insisted could be raised without raising tax - but was later told his estimate was "billions out". His plans appeared to unravel after he said drug traffickers would face mandatory life imprisonment, as would people with three convictions for serious crimes. He also said people found in possession of a knife would not be eligible for suspended sentences. Despite this his proposals would create just 30,000 new prison spaces. Last year there were nearly 50,000 crimes reported to police involving a knife in England and Wales. The operating capacity of prisons was 89,600 in June this year. Sex offenders and those convicted of violent crimes would not qualify for early release, Mr Farage said. The Reform leader said the Army would be ordered to help build five "Nightingale" prisons - modelled on the hospitals fast-tracked during the Covid crisis. Inmates from overseas would be sent back to their homelands, he claimed. But it is unclear what would happen if countries refuse to take them back, with Mr Farage suggesting the UK would use its ecomonic heft to punish those who say no. The previous Tory government suggested sending prisoners to overseas jails - but experts questioned whether this would actually work. The populist Reform boss also claimed he would abolish a shoplifters' "charter" - even though he and his party voted against the Government's Crime and Policing Bill which does just that. Tory law changes mean thefts from shops worth under £200 are less likely to result in prosecution - sending cases sprialling. Labour Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves said: ' Nigel Farage repeatedly tried to block tough measures to make our streets safer. Reform is more interested in headline-chasing than serious policy-making in the interests of the British people. Farage's Reform MPs voted against the Labour Government's landmark Crime and Policing Bill which tackles antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, violence against women and girls, knife crime, and child abuse. The public deserves better than ill-thought through slogans and unfunded policy commitments. 'Unlike Reform, this Labour government is backing up its words with action." And Tory shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: "Farage's sums don't add Reform's crime plan suggests prison places can be provided at £25,000, when the real cost is £40,000. This isn't a manifesto - it's a fantasy, written on the back of a fag packet. "Farage's numbers are billions out. You don't halve crime with wishful thinking. You do it with a real plan, real costs, and real leadership. Britain needs serious leadership, not amateur hour." Mr Farage claimed his plans would see 12,400 new prison places on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land within 18 months of a new Government. He said there would be an additional 10,400 created by transferring serious offenders overseas. He named El Salvador, but then admitted that he had not tested the water to see if its government would be open to such a deal with the UK. It is also unknown how much this would cost, but Reform documents suggest £1.25billion would be set aside over five years. He also said it is "fair, right and proper" that British criminals are taken back in return. Mr Farage said: "Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. "We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. If you're a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice," Following Tory proposals to send prisoners overseas last year, the Prison Reform Trust responded: "Examples of where similar policies have been implemented by other countries to relieve problems of overcrowded and limited capacity have shown mixed results. "In the past decade, both Norway and Belgium have rented prison places in the Netherlands to handle problems of overcrowding and limited capacity. Ultimately, neither Norway nor Belgium extended their contracts with the Netherlands. "Both schemes were heavily criticised by national and international detention monitoring bodies." And it said: "In the case of Belgium, the arrangement did not reduce overcrowding – which continued to get worse."
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Farage pledges target to halve crime if Reform enters government
Proposals to recruit more police officers and create new prison places contribute to the estimated £3.48 billion annual bill for the party's plans on crime and justice. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Farage said: 'Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. 'We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. 'If you're a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice,' he added. Documents handed out at Monday's press conference show that the party estimate a £17.4 billion cost over the course of a five year parliament for their plans, with a £3.48 billion annual cost. Plans to recruit 30,000 more police officers take up the biggest chunk of this bill, estimated at £10.5 billion overall. Mr Farage has pledged 12,400 new prison places on MoD land at a cost of £5 billion, and five new 'Nightingale Prisons' to be built with the assistance of the Army. He also wants to see more than 10,000 more prison places freed up by deporting foreign criminals to their country of origin through bilateral agreements, and Mr Farage claimed he was 'in conversation with Edi Rama', the Albanian prime minister over prisoners. I accept Prime Minister @EdiRamaal's invitation to visit Albania as his guest of honour. We will discuss the return of Albanian prisoners. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) June 30, 2025 The two leaders have been involved in a social media spat over the matter. In a video on social media posted last month, Mr Farage said he would visit Albania and 'report back' after an invitation from Mr Rama. In response, Mr Rama said: 'I genuinely hope your upcoming visit to Albania inspires you to fight for ideas, rather than against people — in the spirit of the great liberal tradition your country has long stood for.' The party also wants prison places overseas in places such as El Salvador, a 'dynamic prisons' policy that the party estimates will cost £1.25 billion over the course of a parliament. Mr Farage said that he would be prepared to take back British criminals who are in foreign prisons as part of his plans. He told reporters at the press conference that 'of course we're prepared to take British prisoners from other parts of the world. 'That's fair, right and proper.' Mr Farage pledged that Monday's event was the start of a six-week campaign on law and order, as Parliament is about to begin its summer recess break. Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves claimed 'Reform is more interested in headline-chasing than serious policy-making in the interests of the British people'. She added: 'Farage's Reform MPs voted against the Labour Government's landmark Crime and Policing Bill which tackles antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, violence against women and girls, knife crime, and child abuse.'
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Nigel Farage vows to send UK prisoners to El Salvador
The Reform UK leader said that the Donald Trump-aping policy would cost around £1.25 billion over the course of a five-year parliamentary term. Farage said that he would be prepared to take back British criminals who are in foreign prisons as part of his plans. He told reporters at the press conference that 'of course we're prepared to take British prisoners from other parts of the world. 'That's fair, right and proper.' Trump has a deal with Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele (below), paying the Central American country billions of dollars to imprison deportees in the country which is unconstrained by US court orders and where human rights abuses and attacks on the democratic process are rampant. (Image: MARVIN RECINOS, AFP via Getty Images) It came as he set out Reform UK's crime policies, which include a pledge to halve crime in five years if the party gets into government. Proposals to recruit more police officers and create new prison places contribute to the estimated £3.48bn annual bill for the party's plans on crime and justice. Documents handed out at Monday's press conference show that the party estimate a £17.4bn cost over the course of a five year parliament for their plans. Plans to recruit 30,000 more police officers take up the biggest chunk of this bill, estimated at £10.5bn overall. READ MORE: The Observer responds after publishing 'racist' cartoon featuring Zarah Sultana Farage has pledged 12,400 new prison places on Ministry of Defence land at a cost of £5bn, and five new 'Nightingale Prisons' to be built with the assistance of the Army. He also wants to see more than 10,000 more prison places freed up by deporting foreign criminals to their country of origin through bilateral agreements, and Farage claimed he was 'in conversation with Edi Rama', the Albanian prime minister over prisoners. The two leaders have been involved in a social media spat over the matter. In a video on social media posted last month, Farage said he would visit Albania and 'report back' after an invitation from Rama (above, left). In response, Rama said: 'I genuinely hope your upcoming visit to Albania inspires you to fight for ideas, rather than against people — in the spirit of the great liberal tradition your country has long stood for.' Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves claimed 'Reform is more interested in headline-chasing than serious policy-making in the interests of the British people'. She added: 'Farage's Reform MPs voted against the Labour Government's landmark Crime and Policing Bill which tackles antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, violence against women and girls, knife crime, and child abuse.'
