Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner put out fresh calls for more funding in wake of new Crime and Policing Bill
New laws to clamp down on anti-social behaviour need police officers to enforce them is the message from the leader of a cash-strapped force.
The Government has today announced its Crime and Policing Bill which will give police new powers to tackle issues such as town centre crime.
But Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said that these new powers need to be properly resourced - especially as the county’s force faces a ‘significant financial crisis’.
Chief Constable Paul Gibson has warned of losing 200 frontline officers and the ‘imminent withdrawal of core services’ as he faces up to a £14million financial budget blackhole.
Mr Jones, who has come under fire for the force’s current financial situation, said: “I welcome any new laws which enable police to tackle anti-social behaviour and theft more effectively.
“I am particularly pleased to see the legislation will allow officers to quickly locate and intercept stolen goods including farm machinery.
“However it is important to realise that any new powers need resource to implement and Lincolnshire is still facing a significant financial crisis.
“It is of little help to have new laws if you don’t have the officers to enforce them properly.”
The new bill places significant focus on protecting high streets with the ‘effective immunity’ for shop theft of goods below £200 being scrapped and protecting retail workers from assault.
Spalding Pubwatch and Shopwatch co-ordinator Stuart Brotherton made repeated calls for changes in how courts sentence shoplifters and would like to see more community sentences handed out so offenders give something back to the areas impacted by their crimes.
There will also be increased powers to crack down on repeat antisocial behaviour offenders, with new Respect Orders banning those prolific offenders from town centres.
It also includes measures to address the highest-harm crimes, such as knife crime, violence against women and girls, cybercrime, child sexual abuse, and terrorism.
