Speeches by Johnson.

“This month, we have supported police and the retail industry to launch the new retail crime strategy, and the Home Secretary launched a safer streets blitz in town centres, with targeted action to tackle retail crime. Under the previous Government, shop theft soared to record levels and assaults against retail workers …”

“With the recently launched 10-year health plan, we are moving away from those siloed services towards a more joined-up approach, including the preventive model of care. That aligns very much with policing and keeping people safe, and supporting wellbeing. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the national neighbou…”

“No, time is very short. The hon. Gentleman’s record when he was a special advisor in the Home Office really is nothing to be proud of. I will talk about the statistics. Street theft increased by more than 40% in the last year of the previous Government, driven largely by soaring rates of snatch theft involving mobile p…”

“I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Brent East (Dawn Butler) on securing the debate and I thank the Backbench Business Committee for allocating the time. I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for sharing her experiences, particularly the “Starsky and Hutch” approach that she took to trying to recover her mobile…”

“Well, you are making quite a compelling case in phrasing that question about why centralisation might be a way forward. There have been huge steps forward, though, over the last few years. I reflect on the debriefing after the ‘24 general election: there was generally a view that things had improved in terms of the res…”

“I am Diana Johnson. I am the Member of Parliament for Hull North and Cottingham, and I am the Policing Minister.”

“I think it is also worth saying that although the Law Commission was not minded to recommend that misogyny should be included for the purpose of aggravated offences or an enhanced sentence, it recommended that sex or gender should be added to the stirring-up offences to criminalise the incitement of hatred on grounds o…”

“Of course, we have been in Government only since last July, so we have inherited this report, and we are looking at it.”

“It published its report on hate crime legislation framework in December 2021 and made 34 recommendations, of which two link to the issue of misogyny as a hate crime. I hear and fully recognise what you are saying about the information that has been provided about the election last year, but the Government’s position is…”

“You will know that, in the Labour party manifesto, we made a commitment to include the aggravating factors that are not included in hate crime at the moment, in terms of LGBT and disability. So we are including those, but you are absolutely right to recognise that sex is not one of the protected characteristics in the …”

“Indeed. I fully accept your point about whether there needs to be something more centralised around MPs and their staff.”

“You make a very interesting point. I have had this experience myself. I rang the police force—this was in Humberside—gave my name and said I was the Member of Parliament. They have a system where it pulls down Operation Bridger immediately, and there are steps that they then go through with you. That is the call handle…”

“I certainly accept that there is sometimes a lack of understanding across the general population about what an MP or councillor is and why you might need assistance and help at a particular point. I fully appreciate that that is not widespread; I was just making the point that if you ring up the police there is a prope…”

“Thank you for that question. I certainly recognise what you identified. One of my frustrations as the Policing Minister—not just in this particular area that we are discussing—is the range of approaches, or consistency or lack of consistency, across 43 police forces with 43 chief constables. In various areas, such as r…”

“I am Diana Johnson. I am the Member of Parliament for Hull North and Cottingham, and I am the Policing Minister.”

“I think it is also worth saying that although the Law Commission was not minded to recommend that misogyny should be included for the purpose of aggravated offences or an enhanced sentence, it recommended that sex or gender should be added to the stirring-up offences to criminalise the incitement of hatred on grounds o…”

“Of course, we have been in Government only since last July, so we have inherited this report, and we are looking at it.”

“It published its report on hate crime legislation framework in December 2021 and made 34 recommendations, of which two link to the issue of misogyny as a hate crime. I hear and fully recognise what you are saying about the information that has been provided about the election last year, but the Government’s position is…”

“You will know that, in the Labour party manifesto, we made a commitment to include the aggravating factors that are not included in hate crime at the moment, in terms of LGBT and disability. So we are including those, but you are absolutely right to recognise that sex is not one of the protected characteristics in the …”

“I certainly accept that there is sometimes a lack of understanding across the general population about what an MP or councillor is and why you might need assistance and help at a particular point. I fully appreciate that that is not widespread; I was just making the point that if you ring up the police there is a prope…”