Written questions by Evans.

Pursuant to WPQ 110045 titled 'Nature Conservation: Crime,' answered on 10 February 2026, what recent conversations she has had with the National Wildlife Crime Unit about the effectiveness of their intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to tackle wildlife crime in [a] England and [b] Leicestershire.

The Home Office worked in partnership with Defra to support the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The Strategy – which was published on 25 November -provides a framework through which policing, and its partners can work together to tackle the most prevalent threats and emerging issues including wildlife crime.We also fund the National Wildlife Crime Unit who provide intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to forces and other law enforcement agencies across the UK to support them in investigating wildlife crime. Throughout the grant agreement period, we hold regular official‑level meetings to discuss progress, engagement and delivery.We are ensuring forces have the tools and resources they need to deal with rural crime including wildlife crime. We have hit our target of 3,000 more neighbourhood officers in March – and our target remains 13k by the end of the parliament

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the implementation of the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28.

The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the National Wildlife Crime Unit on the number of wildlife crime cases.

The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the National Wildlife Crime Unit in (a) investigating and (b) supporting prosecutions in wildlife crime cases.

The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.

How many fixed penalty notices for careless driving due to excessive middle lane motorway use have been issued by police forces in (a) England and (b) Leicestershire since 2013.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and other outcomes for motoring offences as part of the annual "Police Powers and Procedures: Roads Policing” statistics. The latest publication can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-roads-policing-to-december-2023Table FPN_03 of the data tables available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67506ce8d12a2dad3bc97ab4/FPN-other-motoring-offences-statistics-police-powers-procedures-year-ending-dec-23.ods contains information on the number of FPNs (and other outcomes) for motoring offences, recorded by police forces in England and Wales, broken down by offence type, during each calendar year between 2011 and 2023.Middle lane misuse is treated under the general offence of careless driving (classified in these statistics under offence class 804a). Home Office statistics do not record middle lane misuse as a distinct category, and it cannot be separated from other forms of careless driving.

How many fixed penalty notices for careless driving have been issued by police forces in (a) England and (b) Leicestershire since 2013.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and other outcomes for motoring offences as part of the annual "Police Powers and Procedures: Roads Policing” statistics. The latest publication can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-roads-policing-to-december-2023Table FPN_03 of the data tables available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67506ce8d12a2dad3bc97ab4/FPN-other-motoring-offences-statistics-police-powers-procedures-year-ending-dec-23.ods contains information on the number of FPNs (and other outcomes) for motoring offences, recorded by police forces in England and Wales, broken down by offence type, during each calendar year between 2011 and 2023.Middle lane misuse is treated under the general offence of careless driving (classified in these statistics under offence class 804a). Home Office statistics do not record middle lane misuse as a distinct category, and it cannot be separated from other forms of careless driving.

Whether she will make an assessment of trends in levels of fuel theft, such as drive-offs or biking, from petrol stations and the measures that can be taken to tackle the crime.

We would encourage retailers to report any instances of fuel theft to the police.We are also making it easier for retailers to recover the costs when fuel is taken without payment.Improvements have recently been made to the service provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) allowing fuel retailers and their agents to request information to allow recovery of costs when motorists drive away from fuel stations without paying for the fuel taken.This provides a quicker and more efficient approach compared with the existing manual service.

What recent progress the National Crime Agency has made on tackling cash-only businesses engaged in money laundering.

Addressing cash-based money laundering is one of the strategic priorities of the National Economic Crime Centre, which sits within the National Crime Agency. In March 2025, the NECC led a three-week intensification campaign (Operation MACHINIZE) against barbershops and other cash intensive businesses which saw 380 premises visited, 84 warrants, 35 arrests, and the seizure of illicit goods.This was followed by a second phase of activity (Operation MACHINIZE 2) throughout October which involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Unit, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House. The operation saw: 2734 premises visited and raided, 924 individuals arrested, over £10.7m of suspected criminal proceeds seized and over £2.7m worth of illicit commodities destroyed.The Home Office is working closely with partners to use the learning from this operation to build on and develop long-term solutions.

If she will make an assessment of the amount of police time taken to administer vehicle stops under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA) 1988 allows a police officer in uniform to require the driver of a vehicle to stop when directed.This is an important provision in maintaining road safety. It also enhances understanding of road traffic crime and vehicle-enabled crime.Enforcement of traffic law and the deployment of available resources is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners to determine, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of clause 8 of the Crime and Policing Bill on the number of police interceptions of (a) pedal bikes and (b) e-bikes whose riders are committing antisocial behaviour.

Tackling anti-social behaviour and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. Clause 8 of the Crime and Policing Bill removes the requirement for police to issue a warning before seizing a vehicle which is being used anti-socially, including illegally modified e-bikes, under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002. This will allow police to put an immediate stop to offending.The Government has recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles, such as illegally modified e-bikes, which have been used anti-socially. The consultation closed on 8 July and the Government response will be published in due course.These combined measures will strengthen the law and send a clear message that antisocial behaviour involving vehicles will not be tolerated.Section 59 seizure powers apply to motor vehicles only.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54607 on Anti-social Behaviour: North East Somerset and Hanham, whether she has had recent discussions with police forces on initiating the recruitment of a dedicated lead officer to develop local anti-social behaviour action plans.

On 10 April, the Prime Minister announced the details of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, £200 million has been allocated to forces for 2025/26 to support the Government’s commitment to deliver additional personnel into neighbourhood policing.This includes ensuring that every force area will have a dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour who will work with communities to develop an action plan to reduce and prevent ASB. I am closely monitoring the delivery of this commitment across the 43 police forces in England and Wales.Forces are expected to engage with communities to develop their action plan which should cover the entire force area. Larger forces may decide to have more than one Action Plan if they consider it appropriate for different geographical areas within the force.We will continue to work closely with forces once the dedicated lead officers commence their roles from July 2025, setting out further detail on expectations of their ASB Action Plans, including how they will ensure they work across force boundaries where necessary.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54607 on Anti-social Behaviour: North East Somerset and Hanham, what geographical area would be covered by a local anti-social behaviour action plan.

On 10 April, the Prime Minister announced the details of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, £200 million has been allocated to forces for 2025/26 to support the Government’s commitment to deliver additional personnel into neighbourhood policing.This includes ensuring that every force area will have a dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour who will work with communities to develop an action plan to reduce and prevent ASB. I am closely monitoring the delivery of this commitment across the 43 police forces in England and Wales.Forces are expected to engage with communities to develop their action plan which should cover the entire force area. Larger forces may decide to have more than one Action Plan if they consider it appropriate for different geographical areas within the force.We will continue to work closely with forces once the dedicated lead officers commence their roles from July 2025, setting out further detail on expectations of their ASB Action Plans, including how they will ensure they work across force boundaries where necessary.

What recent discussions she has with representative bodies to ensure that plans to provide protection from assault to front-line retail workers include (a) bank and (b) building society staff.

Through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. My officials have met with UK Finance and Barclays Bank to discuss the issue of assaults on bank and building society staff, which is an issue we also take extremely seriously. Assaults against workers in the bank and building society sectors are already an offence (common assault) under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and are covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, including actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 creates a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing cases of assault against public facing workers. It applies where an assault is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public, including public-facing roles in banks and building societies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54607 on Anti-social Behaviour: North East Somerset and Hanham, what steps she is taking to help ensure that intelligence gained by the dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour is not lost if the perpetrators of anti-social behaviour move between force areas.

On 10 April, the Prime Minister announced the details of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, £200 million has been allocated to forces for 2025/26 to support the Government’s commitment to deliver additional personnel into neighbourhood policing.This includes ensuring that every force area will have a dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour who will work with communities to develop an action plan to reduce and prevent ASB. I am closely monitoring the delivery of this commitment across the 43 police forces in England and Wales.Forces are expected to engage with communities to develop their action plan which should cover the entire force area. Larger forces may decide to have more than one Action Plan if they consider it appropriate for different geographical areas within the force.We will continue to work closely with forces once the dedicated lead officers commence their roles from July 2025, setting out further detail on expectations of their ASB Action Plans, including how they will ensure they work across force boundaries where necessary.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28628 on Emergency Services: Medals, what progress she has made on considering proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services injured in service.

The Home Office continues to work on this proposal with relevant stakeholders, including other government departments.

Whether she has had discussions with (a) the National Police Chiefs Council and (b) Leicestershire Police on a rural crime strategy.

The Home Office is working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to develop the next interim of the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy, and I recently met with the NPCC lead for rural crime to discuss that strategy, and related issues.

What recent discussions he has had with (a) police forces and (b) local authorities on the (a) effectiveness of current legislation on and (b) adequacy of resources for encouraging responsible dog ownership in public areas.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible tools and powers, including Community Protection Notices, Civil Injunctions and Public Spaces Protection Orders, that they can use to tackle irresponsible dog ownership.Appropriate use of the powers is a local decision for police, local authorities and other agencies; however, the Home Office regularly engages with police and local authority partners to discuss the effectiveness of the legislation.Set against our Safer Streets Mission, this government is committed to reducing anti-social behaviour (ASB). We are making changes to some of the powers in the 2014 Act via the Crime and Policing Bill, introduced to Parliament last month, to ensure the powers – based on engagement with police and local authorities – are as effective as possible. These changes include increasing the upper limit for a fixed penalty notice for breaches of Community Protection Notices and Public Spaces Protection Orders from £100 to £500 to act as a stronger deterrent to ASB.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including pension fraud as part of the Government's forthcoming fraud strategy.

The Government committed in our manifesto to introduce an expanded Fraud Strategy, which will cover all relevant types of fraud where criminals target the UK public and businesses, including pension fraud.We will be engaging all relevant stakeholders in the development of the Strategy, and further details will be set out in due course.

What steps her Department is taking to support the long-term funding of Leicestershire Police.

The 2024-25 police funding settlement provides Leicestershire Police with funding of up to £256.0 million in 2024-25. The Home Office will provide additional government grant funding of £175 million to policing in 2024-25 to support the costs of the 2024 police pay award, from which Leicestershire will receive a further £2.4 million.The Budget published on 30 October confirmed that the core government grant for police forces in England and Wales will increase in 2025-26. Further details and force level allocations will be set out at the forthcoming provisional settlement in December.Funding for future years beyond 2025-26 will be set out in phase 2 of the Spending Review.

What recent discussions she has had with (a) police chiefs, (b) other statutory bodies and (c) third party bodies and community organisations to progress the her Department's objective to halve knife crime in a decade.

The government has launched a coalition to tackle knife crime with campaign groups, charities and victims’ families alongside key partners.The coalition will bring together key stakeholders and work with experts to develop an extensive understanding of what causes young people to be involved in knife crime as well as holding government departments to account for progress in halving knife crime in a decade