Written questions by McMurdock.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of permanently closed police stations on (a) local community safety and (b) public confidence in policing.

Decisions regarding the management of local police resourcing and estates, including police stations, are a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents). They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience and in line with existing budgets. The Home Office does not collect data on the number or location of police stations, or the impact of their closure, including any associated costs to policing.As set out in the Revised Financial Management Code of Practice (FMCP) for police forces in England and Wales, the accounting for assets including property should comply with the requirements of the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom. Any plans for the significant rationalisation or expansion of the estate should be included in a police force’s medium-term financial strategy. PCCs should consult with the Chief Constable when developing the budget and medium-term financial strategy, including a full assessment of the assets required to meet operational requirements.Police stations are just one of the ways in which people can access their local police, including reporting online and by phone 24/7 via 999 for emergencies and 101 for non-emergency calls.A key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing, and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing, The commitments set out in the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee are now making a considerable difference to the service communities receive from their neighbourhood policing teams. We have also provided £200 million in FY 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will strengthen the connections between the police and the communities they serve.

What the estimated annual cost to police forces is of maintaining vacant police station buildings in (a) Essex and (b) the UK.

Decisions regarding the management of local police resourcing and estates, including police stations, are a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents). They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience and in line with existing budgets. The Home Office does not collect data on the number or location of police stations, or the impact of their closure, including any associated costs to policing.As set out in the Revised Financial Management Code of Practice (FMCP) for police forces in England and Wales, the accounting for assets including property should comply with the requirements of the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom. Any plans for the significant rationalisation or expansion of the estate should be included in a police force’s medium-term financial strategy. PCCs should consult with the Chief Constable when developing the budget and medium-term financial strategy, including a full assessment of the assets required to meet operational requirements.Police stations are just one of the ways in which people can access their local police, including reporting online and by phone 24/7 via 999 for emergencies and 101 for non-emergency calls.A key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing, and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing, The commitments set out in the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee are now making a considerable difference to the service communities receive from their neighbourhood policing teams. We have also provided £200 million in FY 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will strengthen the connections between the police and the communities they serve.

What guidance her Department provides to police and crime commissioners on the (a) maintenance, (b) security and (c) future use of disused police station buildings.

Decisions regarding the management of local police resourcing and estates, including police stations, are a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents). They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience and in line with existing budgets. The Home Office does not collect data on the number or location of police stations, or the impact of their closure, including any associated costs to policing.As set out in the Revised Financial Management Code of Practice (FMCP) for police forces in England and Wales, the accounting for assets including property should comply with the requirements of the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom. Any plans for the significant rationalisation or expansion of the estate should be included in a police force’s medium-term financial strategy. PCCs should consult with the Chief Constable when developing the budget and medium-term financial strategy, including a full assessment of the assets required to meet operational requirements.Police stations are just one of the ways in which people can access their local police, including reporting online and by phone 24/7 via 999 for emergencies and 101 for non-emergency calls.A key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing, and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing, The commitments set out in the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee are now making a considerable difference to the service communities receive from their neighbourhood policing teams. We have also provided £200 million in FY 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will strengthen the connections between the police and the communities they serve.

How many police stations in Essex have been closed or left vacant since 2020; and what plans her Department has to support the repurposing or renewal of those sites.

Decisions regarding the management of local police resourcing and estates, including police stations, are a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents). They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience and in line with existing budgets. The Home Office does not collect data on the number or location of police stations, or the impact of their closure, including any associated costs to policing.As set out in the Revised Financial Management Code of Practice (FMCP) for police forces in England and Wales, the accounting for assets including property should comply with the requirements of the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom. Any plans for the significant rationalisation or expansion of the estate should be included in a police force’s medium-term financial strategy. PCCs should consult with the Chief Constable when developing the budget and medium-term financial strategy, including a full assessment of the assets required to meet operational requirements.Police stations are just one of the ways in which people can access their local police, including reporting online and by phone 24/7 via 999 for emergencies and 101 for non-emergency calls.A key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing, and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing, The commitments set out in the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee are now making a considerable difference to the service communities receive from their neighbourhood policing teams. We have also provided £200 million in FY 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will strengthen the connections between the police and the communities they serve.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of aligning the licensing regime for Section 2 shotguns with that for Section 1 firearms.

We will be undertaking a public consultation later this year on the greater alignment of the controls on shotguns with other firearms.The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February this year, included a commitment to having a consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns. We will carefully consider the views put forward to the consultation in due course and this includes the possible impact of any changes.

What steps her Department is taking to help (a) encourage and (b) support the recruitment of armed forces veterans into the police.

The Government is committed to ensuring police forces are supported to effectively tackle crime. We are clear that visible policing is essential to restoring public confidence in the police.We recognise that there are important opportunities for those leaving the military to join police forces. We value these people’s commitment to public service.Following the introduction of the Police Constable Entry Programme military veterans have a range of options to join the police depending on the qualifications they may hold and the resettlement credits available to them.Decisions about police recruitment, including how recruitment and selection processes are run, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of aligning Section 2 shotgun licensing with Section 1 high-powered firearms.

We will be undertaking a public consultation later this year on the greater alignment of the controls on shotguns with other firearms.The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February this year, included a commitment to having a consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns. We will carefully consider the views put forward to the consultation in due course and this includes the possible impact of any changes.

How much police forces spent on jobs where the primary function of the role is to provide advice on diversity, equality, and inclusion in the last 12 months.

Police forces that reflect the communities they serve are crucial to tackling crime and maintain public trust and confidence in a modern diverse society.Decisions about police recruitment and the allocation of resources are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions to make decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of diversity, equality and inclusion roles in police forces, or on the amount spent by forces on these roles.

How many people are employed by the police in roles where the primary focus is on diversity, equality and inclusion.

Police forces that reflect the communities they serve are crucial to tackling crime and maintain public trust and confidence in a modern diverse society.Decisions about police recruitment and the allocation of resources are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions to make decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of diversity, equality and inclusion roles in police forces, or on the amount spent by forces on these roles.

If her Department will take steps to encourage police forces to prioritise funding for frontline roles rather than spending on diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Police forces that reflect the communities they serve are crucial to tackling crime and maintain public trust and confidence in a modern diverse society.Decisions about police recruitment and the allocation of resources are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions to make decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of diversity, equality and inclusion roles in police forces, or on the amount spent by forces on these roles.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of using technology to assist with the reduction of crossings in the English Channel by (a) migrants and (b) people traffickers.

The Government keeps all options to tackle small boat crossings and the organised crime groups behind them under constant review, including the new and emerging technologies to do so.

If she will take steps to encourage the use of (a) steering wheel locks, (b) gear stick locks and (c) other car theft prevention measures.

This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime. We are working with the automotive industry and police, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on the issue, to ensure the strongest response possible.Via the recently established National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, we are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of and from vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles. In the Crime and Policing Bill we have banned electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them. We also provided £250,000 funding in the financial year 2024-25 to help support work at the ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including providing additional staff and specialist equipment.

What steps she is taking to increase levels of police (a) visibility and (b) presence to help tackle (i) youth violence and (ii) knife crime in (A) Essex and (B) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Knife crime has destroyed far too many lives. That is why, as part of the Safer Streets mission, we are working to halve knife crime within a decade.We have a comprehensive, data-led and Government-wide approach to this goal. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including Essex South Basildon and East Thurrock, will play a key role in meeting this ambition. To increase police visibility and presence, the Government has introduced the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which ensures neighbourhood policing teams are spending the majority of their time within their communities, delivering visible patrols and actively engaging with residents and businesses. Essex Police have also been allocated £1.63m for 2025/26 to deliver the Hotspot Action programme. This programme is a combination of increased high visibility foot patrols and funding of problem-oriented policing (POP) tactics. POP is bespoke to the local areas to tackle the underlying drivers of crime using a comprehensive menu of policing interventions, such as increased targeted knife sweeps, and licensed premises checks.

What plans her Department has to tackle (a) youth violence and (b) knife crime in (i) Essex and (ii) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including Essex South Basildon and East Thurrock, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.To date, we have taken action to ban zombie knives and the ban on ninja swords came into force on 1 August 2025 - it is now illegal to sell or own these weapons. We have also implemented, “Ronan’s Law”, a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives.Over £66 million is available to all 43 police force areas to fund the 'Hotspot Action' programme in 2025/26. This includes Essex Police who have been allocated £1.63m for 2025/26. This programme is a combination of increased high visibility foot patrols and funding of problem-oriented policing (POP) tactics. POP is bespoke to the local areas to tackle the underlying drivers of crime using a comprehensive menu of policing interventions, such as increased targeted knife sweeps, and licensed premises checks.Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.As we design the Young Futures Programme, we will ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). VRUs bring together partners, including from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area.In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing over £1.5m in grant funding to the Essex VRU, alongside £297k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty.This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes youth workers in A&E settings steering young people away from violence at a ‘teachable moment’ and education inclusion programmes.

What steps she is taking to provide adequate funding to support police forces with the costs of electrifying their car fleets.

Decisions around the procurement and deployment of electric vehicles, as well as infrastructure to support them, is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, or Mayoral equivalents.We would expect decisions to be made with consideration to the needs of the force, their local community, and within their existing budget allocation.

What guidance her Department issues to police forces on the impact of battery degradation on their electric vehicle fleets.

Decisions around the procurement and deployment of electric vehicles, as well as infrastructure to support them, is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, or Mayoral equivalents.We would expect decisions to be made with consideration to the needs of the force, their local community, and within their existing budget allocation.

What assessment she has made of the potential operational impact of switching to electric police vehicles on frontline officers.

The National Police Chiefs Council have begun the process of assessing the impact of transitioning from internal combustion engine to electric vehicles, which includes consideration of the operational consequences, consequences for frontline officers and budgetary impact.At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed a real terms increase in police spending power. Grant allocations to police forces will be made in the usual way at the police funding settlement.

What assessment she has made of the relative adequacy of (a) electric and (b) internal combustion engine vehicles in enabling police forces to meet response time targets.

The National Police Chiefs Council have begun the process of assessing the impact of transitioning from internal combustion engine to electric vehicles, which includes consideration of the operational consequences, consequences for frontline officers and budgetary impact.At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed a real terms increase in police spending power. Grant allocations to police forces will be made in the usual way at the police funding settlement.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting up a combined police forces electric vehicle battery replacement plan to maximise value for money.

The National Police Chiefs Council have begun the process of assessing the impact of transitioning from internal combustion engine to electric vehicles, which includes consideration of the operational consequences, consequences for frontline officers and budgetary impact.At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed a real terms increase in police spending power. Grant allocations to police forces will be made in the usual way at the police funding settlement.

What financial support she intends to provide for the installation of chargers in police car parks as police car fleets are electrified.

Decisions around the procurement and deployment of electric vehicles, as well as infrastructure to support them, is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, or Mayoral equivalents.We would expect decisions to be made with consideration to the needs of the force, their local community, and within their existing budget allocation.