The MP for Ipswich has welcomed the policing minister to the town where they discussed steps being taken to tackle shoplifting, retail crime and anti-social behaviour.
Today, Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, and Jack Abbott MP met with residents, business owners and staff, trade union representatives, the police and other local stakeholders to discuss the regeneration of Ipswich town centre.
The minister discussed steps being taken to tackle shoplifting, retail crime and anti-social behaviour, and other Government measures to support local businesses and consumers.
The Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, visited Ipswich town centre at the request of Ipswich MP Jack Abbott (left). They are pictured with leader of Ipswich Borough Council Neil MacDonald. Picture: Jack Abbott
The visit follows Mr Abbott’s invitation to the minister in the House of Commons earlier last year. Mr Abbott raised the issue of a ‘record increase’ in retail crime before extending an invite to visit the town to Dame Diana, which was accepted.
Dame Diana thanked Mr Abbott ‘for inviting me to Ipswich to see first hand the regeneration in the town centre and the work already under way between policing, the council and businesses to tackle anti-social behaviour and shop theft’.
She said: “Around the country, too many town and city centres are being plagued by anti-social behaviour. Add in the wave of shop theft hitting high streets and it is clear that urgent action is needed.
Dame Diana Johnson and Jack Abbott MP in Primary – retail crime was one of the topics discussed during the minister’s visit. Picture: Jack Abbott
“That is why this Government has committed to delivering real change.
“Labour’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure local patrols are restored to our communities and people have someone to turn to when they need help, with every community having a named local officer.
Mr Abbott said: “One of my main priorities as an MP is to help revive our town centre and I know that people, rightly, want retail crime and anti-social behaviour tackled as part of that change.
“I was pleased to welcome the minister here to visit Ipswich town centre, to talk to local businesses, residents and the police to discuss how we can continue to work together to ultimately drive the growth, opportunity and regeneration that our town deserves. There is lots of important work happening, but we still have a number of challenges that need to be addressed.
“From cracking down on retail crime and anti-social behaviour to supporting local businesses and consumers; our Labour Government has already begun to deliver much-needed change, with the promise of more yet to come.”
A press release from Mr Abbott’s office said the Government had introduced tough new measures to tackle retail crime, including introducing a standalone offence for attacking a shop worker and ending the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters.
The Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, with Ipswich MP Jack Abbott (left) and leader of Ipswich Borough Council Neil MacDonald. Picture: Jack Abbott
The Government has also provided millions of pounds worth of funding to regenerate town centres like Ipswich, including significant new investment in neighbourhood policing, and recently announced plans to give councils new powers for a community right to buy, to protect key local spaces.
The Chancellor’s October budget also took the step to exempt hundreds of thousands of small businesses from paying any employer National Insurance contributions and announced a permanent business rates cut for shops, pubs and restaurants.
Mr Abbott welcomed these steps in a visit to Ipswich businesses in December to mark Small Business Saturday.