Police chief labels people who don't stop shoplifters ‘part of the problem'
Liberal Democrat MP Joshua Reynolds and policing minister Dame Diana Johnson condemned Barber's remarks as "irresponsible" and "dangerous", advising the public against confronting thieves.
The controversy arises amid record-high shoplifting offences in England and Wales, with a 20 per cent increase from the previous year.
Retailers, particularly pharmacies, report a surge in shoplifting and aggressive behaviour, with many feeling police responses are inadequate.
Barber defended his comments, stressing social responsibility and the importance of reporting crime, while clarifying he does not advocate for physical intervention.
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The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
DC's homeless pack up as sweeps are expected. What we know about Trump's plan to clear encampments
Some of the District of Columbia's homeless residents were packing their belongings Thursday before expected sweeps to clear out remaining encampments around the nation's capital, part of President Donald Trump 's federal takeover of policing in the city. Trump said this week that homeless people will be moved far from the city in his crackdown on crime. But details of the plan to do so are unclear. Washington's status as a congressionally established federal district gives Trump the opportunity to push his tough-on-crime agenda. It's prompted concern from advocates and others who say there are better ways to address homelessness than clearing encampments and leaving their occupants worrying about where they go. Here's a look at what we know and what questions remain about how Trump's actions will affect the city's homeless population: What's happening to encampments? Near the Institute of Peace on Thursday morning, AP journalists saw about a dozen homeless D.C. residents packing their belongings. Items weren't being forcibly thrown out by law enforcement, but an earth mover dug out and scooped away the remains of encampments, depositing them into the bed of an idling truck. Yards away, several protesters held signs, some critical of the Trump administration. Volunteers from some of the agencies around the city that help homeless people were on hand, and advocates said they expected law enforcement officers to fan out across D.C. later Thursday to take down any remaining homeless encampments, Amber W. Harding, executive director of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, said she believed that 'federal law enforcement will begin systematically rounding up and arresting unhoused people." She believed officers would ask people to move on or would 'offer shelter,' arresting people if they refused either directive. 'We do not have enough shelter beds for everyone on the street,' Harding said. 'This is a chaotic and scary time for all of us in D.C., but particularly for people without homes.' Lucho Vásquez, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, said his group was 'focusing all energies on opening and operating temporary facilities' for anyone in need of emergency shelter, food or other resources after the removals. Where will the city's homeless people be taken? It's not entirely clear. Trump wrote on his social media site before Monday's news conference announcing the takeover that homeless people will have to leave immediately. 'We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital,' he posted. Asked this week where homeless people would be relocated, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said local police and federal agencies would 'enforce the laws that are already on the books,' which, she said, 'have been completely ignored.' Citing a city regulation that she said gives local police 'the authority to take action when it comes to homeless encampments,' Leavitt said homeless people 'will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services.' Those who refuse 'will be susceptible to fines or to jail time.' In the past five months, U.S. Park Police have removed 70 homeless encampments, giving the people living in them the same options, she said. As of Tuesday, Leavitt said only two homeless encampments remained in district parks maintained by the National Park Service and would be removed this week. How many homeless people are in Washington? It is difficult to obtain accurate counts of homeless populations. On one day at the end of each January, municipal agencies across the United States perform a 'point-in-time' count aimed at capturing the total number of people in emergency shelters, transitional housing or without any housing. The 2025 count in the district put the total at 5,138 adults and children, a 9% decrease compared with the year before, according to Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser. What are city officials doing for the homeless? District officials said Tuesday they were making additional shelter space available. Kevin Donahue, the city administrator, said outreach workers were visiting homeless encampments and the city has a building available that could house as many as 200 people, if needed. Donahue made the comments during a conversation with community advocates and Bowser. The conversation was broadcast on X. He said the outreach would continue through the week with a 'greater level of urgency.' Bowser said that when Trump sees homeless encampments in the city it 'triggers something in him that has him believing our very beautiful city is dirty, which it is not.' What are people in Washington saying? 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In several spots across the city, AP journalists talked to homeless people who were being told either by federal law enforcement officials or advocacy groups to pack up tents and belongings from parks and other public spaces before more official removal measures. Some expressed fear and anxiety about what might be coming. ___ Associated Press writers Christine Fernando in Chicago, Mike Balsamo and Darlene Superville; video journalists River Zhang and Nathan Ellgren; and photographer Jacquelyn Martin contributed to this report. ___
The Independent
7 minutes ago
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BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Controversial shopping site plan withdrawn hours before decision
Controversial plans which could potentially have allowed a building owner to convert part of a shopping centre into residential accommodation have been withdrawn just hours before they were due to be decided on by proposals for the CPS Centre in Culcheth included changes to bikes and bin storage and the building itself but not a change of use, although Warrington Council officers said a future intention for residential did "appear to be the case".The scheme has been controversial after traders were evicted from the centre, and it was raised in parliament by the area's BBC has contacted the agent representing the owner for a comment. Nearly 140 objections to the scheme had been raised by locals and councillors, with residents planning to attend the meeting later to show their at the council had recommended the scheme for approval in a report produced ahead of the meeting.A previous plan for the site was rejected by the authority last Smith, Labour councillor for Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft, said: "Our community really came together to fight this potential threat to the CPS Centre."The disappointment is that the applicant left it until now to withdraw, they could have taken this step weeks ago when they saw the objections come in."Smith, who was due to speak against the plans at the meeting, said: "I'm sure there will be further applications in the future, but for now, it's fair to say our voices have been heard loud and clear." See more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
