Written questions by Taylor.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of poor HGV facilities on the incidence of fuel theft from commercial vehicles; and what steps she is taking to protect UK hauliers and national supply chains.

Fuel theft undermines businesses and their workers. We are equipping the police to fight the organised crime gangs which can drive this theft nationally. Our £5m investment into OPAL, (the police national intelligence unit who focus on serious organised acquisitive crime) will supercharge intelligence-led policing to expand its capability to tackle freight crime, identify offenders, and disrupt the tactics used to in addition to bringing more criminals to justice.We recognise that fuel theft is often organised, mobile and cross-border in nature. Through police reform this Government will address these challenges, reforming the policing system to ensure crime that operates across force boundaries is met with a strong national and regional response.Through the creation of a new National Police Service, policing will benefit from stronger national leadership, consistent standards and improved coordination to tackle serious and organised crime. This will strengthen the collective response where criminals operate across multiple police force areas.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that financial services firms operating within the defence supply chain, and their employees, are adequately protected from threats and incidents of political violence.

The Government fully supports the police to use all the powers available to them to prevent crimes occurring as a result of unlawful direct-action tactics, and to ensure those who do commit them face the full force of the law.The National Police Coordination Centre has been working closely with the financial sector to understand the nature of the problem and is helping to co-ordinate a robust policing response.I have also met representatives from the industry and a further meeting is scheduled with them and representatives from the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

What recent steps her Department has taken to reduce the time taken for processing of Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

As an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Home Office, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is operationally independent and responsible for the service it provides.It currently operates to formalised service standards of completing 85% of Basic check applications within 2 days, 85% of Standard check applications within 3 days, and 80% of Enhanced check applications within 14 days.Its latest performance against these service standards is available at DBS dataset 1: DBS checks, DBS Update Service, and disputes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What recent discussions she has had with her Kosovan counterparts on a bilateral security agreement.

The Home Secretary met with her Kosovan counterpart as part of the Western Balkans Summit Interior Ministers meeting.They discussed a range of issues in the bilateral relationship, including the UK’s support for Kosovo’s security. The UK remains committed to its close and longstanding partnership with Kosovo.

What estimate she has made of the number of vehicles under the jurisdiction of her Department coming to their end of life; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making those vehicles available to the Ukrainian military.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 11 June to Question 56574.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38911 on Clothing: Public Places, whether she plans to take steps to help support residents who are scared to leave their homes due to people wearing balaclavas in town centres in Hertfordshire.

This Government wants town centres to be vibrant, welcoming places where businesses thrive and people feel safe and come to shop, socialise and live. What the Hon Member describes about town centres in Hertfordshire is absolutely unacceptable.As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, and to support making the country’s streets safer, £66.3 million of Hotspot Action funding has been awarded to all 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales for 2025/26. Hertfordshire will receive £1 million of that funding.In addition, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, section 60AA permits officers on patrol to require the removal of face coverings over a 24 hour period, if an authorisation is in place, where there are grounds to believe criminal activity may take place in a particular area, and will last for 24 hours.Furthermore, stop and search powers permit individuals to be stopped by officers if there are grounds to suspect they are going to commit offences, such as robbery and theft.The implementation of a new Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee is also key to people feeling safe in their communities. The guarantee includes restoring patrols to town centres and delivering an additional 13,000 neighbourhood policing officers, PCSOs and special constables by the end of this parliament.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the sale of drug paraphernalia in high street retail outlets on levels of drug use among young people.

Under Section 9A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (“the Act”), a person who supplies or offers to supply any article which may be used (or adapted to be used) in the unlawful administration of a controlled drug, is guilty of an offence.An exception is made in the Act around the provision of hypodermic syringes, and there are further exceptions in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, for the provision of certain articles when provided in the context of drug treatment.Enforcement is a matter for the police.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the wearing of balaclavas in public spaces.

Face coverings have a variety of legitimate purposes and as such the Government does not support a general ban on the wearing of balaclavas or other types of face coverings in public.However, the Crime and Policing Bill contains a new criminal offence of wearing, or otherwise using, an item that conceals identity in an area designated by police due to the risk of criminal activity taking place at protests. This will enable the police to put a stop to individuals hiding behind masks to avoid conviction for criminal activity at protests.

What discussions she has had with the police in Hertfordshire on tackling the driving of (a) motorbikes and (b) mopeds on (i) pavements and (ii) other public spaces in Hertfordshire.

Tackling anti-social behaviour involving vehicles is a priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission to take back our streets.On 25 February 2025, the Crime and Policing Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Bill includes proposals to give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing vehicles.This will allow the police to quickly remove anti-social motorbikes and mopeds from pavements and other public spaces and send a clear message to antisocial drivers that their behaviour will not be tolerated.Enforcement of the law in Hertfordshire, including in relation to illegal driving of motorbikes, mopeds, on pavements and other public spaces, is an operational matter for Hertfordshire Police.

What steps he is taking to help tackle speeding by motor vehicles in rural areas of Hertfordshire.

Excess speed is still a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads. Anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face sanction.Enforcement of speeding offences in rural areas of Hertfordshire and the deployment of available resources and capabilities is an operational matter for Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Chief Constable and Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner to determine, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

If she will make an assessment of the potential eligibility of Hemel Hempstead for the Respect Order pilot scheme.

Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.The Government recently announced Respect Orders which will be introduced through the Crime and Policing Bill. Respect Orders can be applied for by the police and local councils and are issued by the courts. They will enable courts to place wide-ranging restrictions on the behaviour of the most persistent and disruptive ASB offenders.Respect Orders will be piloted prior to national rollout to make sure they are as effective as possible. Consideration will be given to where the pilots will take place in due course.

What steps she is taking to help tackle antisocial behaviour in Hertfordshire.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.That’s why this Government will put thousands of new neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities across the country, so residents know they will have someone to turn to when things go wrong.We will crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets by introducing tougher powers, including new Respect Orders to tackle repeat offending, and we will give the police stronger powers to crack down on the antisocial use of dangerous and deafening off-road bikes.