Saqib Bhatti MP welcomes the Government’s anti-social behaviour crackdown, with a ban on nitrous oxide and tougher enforcement on fly-tipping.
Saqib has previously written to Home Secretary on the anti-social behaviour and widespread littering associated with nitrous oxide, writing he has seen first-hand the unsightly nature of the littered canisters. He has been contacted by litter-picking groups and Councillor Tony Dicicco on local anti-social behaviour and littering from nitrous oxide canisters.
Writing in January to the Home Secretary, Saqib asked how we could further prevent the sale and illicit use of nitrous oxide.
The Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan giving 16 areas in England and Wales funding to support new ‘hotspot’ police and enforcement patrols in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour, with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner area being selected as one of the 16 pilot locations.
The Action Plan also sees tough enforcement on fly-tipping, with an increase in the punishment for those who graffiti, litter or fly-tip with fines of up to £500 and £1,000, (up from £150 and £400 respectively) alongside council league tables published for fly-tipping. The council league tables will help show which councils are able to take a muscular approach to enforcement and spread best practice.
This announcement follows on from the Fly-tipping and Illegal Dumping debate Saqib led in Parliament, in which he highlighted the good work of local residents’ groups in tackling littering and fly-tipping, whilst also pushing for tougher enforcement against those that fly-tip.
During the Home Secretary’s Statement on the Anti-Social Behaviour Plan, Saqib commended the action taken on banning nitrous oxide. He also raised the Labour police and crime commissioner's plans to close police stations in the West Midlands, including no plan to keep a police station open in the borough of Solihull or a front desk at Chelmsley Wood police station.
Speaking in the Statement, Saqib said:
“The Home Secretary will be aware that I wrote to her about the availability of nitrous oxide and I have spoken in the House about enforcement on fly-tipping, so I commend her for the tough action she has taken today.”
“I want to turn to what she said about the Labour police and crime commissioner closing down police stations in the west midlands. My constituents are very concerned that he has no plan to keep a police station open in the borough of Solihull or a front desk at Chelmsley Wood police station.”
“Does she agree that the Labour police and crime commissioner is short-changing my constituents in Meriden and the people of the west midlands?”
Responding to Saqib’s question, Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary said:
“I am afraid that where Labour leads, crime follows, and the west midlands is no exception. The Labour police and crime commissioner is more interested in closing police stations—he cannot even command the support of his own Labour members—than standing up for the law-abiding majority in the west midlands.”
