Anti-social behaviour 'will not be tolerated'
An MP said anti-social behaviour "cannot and will not be tolerated" after more than 900 incidents were recorded in her constituency in 2023.
Alice Macdonald, Labour MP for Norwich North, held a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday regarding anti-social behaviour in the East of England, while welcoming the government's Police and Crime Bill.
During 2023, she said, about 8,800 incidents of anti-social behaviour were recorded across Norfolk, with 948 of these in her own constituency.
She said: "Nothing has the power to disturb our experiences like anti-social behaviour; it can make people's lives a living hell."
Ms Macdonald said anti-social behaviour could come in many forms, including fly-tipping, nuisance neighbours, loud music and off-road bikes.
During her speech, she said Norwich City Council had started to lock gates again in parks and cemeteries after receiving reports of drug use and vandalism.
One of the parks affected, Waterloo Park in Norwich, is home to The Feed, a social enterprise cafe that has experienced issues including broken glass and its benches being thrown in fountains.
While the charity is unable to fund CCTV, Ms Macdonald said she would be backing a call for this.
She said where derelict sites had not been secured properly, they had become "hotspots".
In January, 17 fire appliances were called to a fire at the derelict Van-Dal shoe factory on Dibden Road, Norwich.
It took firefighters up to four hours to get the blaze under control.
Ms Macdonald said: "Norwich is a great place to live, and indeed we have seen communities rally round to support each other after anti-social behaviour, but a small minority can cause misery for many."
She said Norfolk Police was expected to receive about £235m in funding this year, but that with more resources, would be able to tackle such issues.
"Anti-social behaviour is a blight on all our communities. It cannot and will not be tolerated," she said.
"I applaud the government's actions in taking efforts and action to tackle it and put more police on our streets, but there is, of course a long way to go."
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said the government was working with the National Police Chiefs' Council on a rural crime strategy.
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Shoppers welcome new anti-social behaviour powers
Cafe 'will not back down' despite damage and abuse
Parks to be locked at night in council U-turn
Parliament UK
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rail challenger to take on Labour's nationalised trains
Private train operator Lumo is plotting a range of new services across Britain in a direct challenge to Labour's nationalised rail network. FirstGroup, which owns the low-cost rail company, is looking to expand operations after already announcing plans to triple Lumo's passenger count to 10m a year with the addition of five new routes. Graham Sutherland, the chief executive, said FirstGroup is now studying population growth and housebuilding plans to determine where is best to introduce new routes. However, he said the company is particularly keen to restore direct services to London from small towns across the UK, while it is also exploring the possibility of launching trains between poorly connected regional centres. He said: 'Obviously it gets harder the further you get through it, but we feel there are other opportunities still to come out over time. 'Anything we are looking at is commercially sensitive. But the basic criteria is do we think there are under-served areas in terms of rail and do we have an opportunity to drive modal shift and get people out of their cars.' It comes after Labour sent out mixed messages on the continuation of private rail services following the launch of its state-backed railway company, Great British Railways (GBR). Privatised 'open-access' operators, which are not paid by the Government to run services and make their money only from passenger fares, are due to remain in private hands, according to the blueprint for GBR. However, Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, wrote to the industry regulator in January advising it to adopt a more rigorous stance on approving open-access applications. GBR is set to be fully operational by next year. Meanwhile, The Telegraph revealed last month that LNER, which is already government-run, is predicted to lose out on £1bn in ticket sales to private operators offering cheaper fares. Mr Sutherland said open access is no threat to the nationalised railway, claiming instead that competition helps to improve standards and attract new customers. Mr Sutherland added that further routes targeted by Lumo were likely to conform to its existing long-distance model. FirstGroup currently operates open-access services along the east coast main line from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and Hull via Lumo and sister brand Hull Trains, which it plans to extend to Glasgow and Sheffield respectively. A further two new routes are guaranteed, one from London Euston to Stirling, in Scotland, and the other from London Paddington to Carmarthen, in south Wales, after FirstGroup bought access rights from Arriva's Grand Union. FirstGroup has also lodged applications with the Office of Rail and Road to run trains from Euston to Rochdale via Manchester and from Paddington to Hereford and Paignton, Devon. Should the company succeed in expanding to all seven routes, its open-access revenue should jump from £106m to around £300m, Mr Sutherland said. FirstGroup's South Western Railway became the first to be seized by Labour last month and will be followed by its remaining Avanti West Coast and Great Western franchises. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Free school meals to be given to 16,000 children in Peterborough
Up to 16,000 children in Peterborough are set to benefit from free school meals. From September 2026, the Labour Government will provide free, nutritious school meals to every child of a family receiving Universal Credit. This expansion forms a crucial part of Labour's Plan for Change. Currently, only children from households earning less than £7,400 per year qualify for free school meals. This frequently leaves many families without support. The expansion is anticipated to lift 100,000 children out of poverty across England. MP for Peterborough, Andrew Pakes, said: "No child in Peterborough should ever have to learn on an empty stomach or miss out because of family finances. "This expansion of free school meals is a game-changer for our city, lifting children out of poverty, easing the pressure on parents, and giving every young person the chance to thrive." The move will save local parents close to £500 annually, providing much-needed relief amidst the cost of living crisis. Sam Carling, MP for North West Cambridgeshire, said: "I've heard from so many families in our community who are struggling with the cost of living – and school meals are one of the biggest everyday pressures. "This change means nearly 6,000 children in North West Cambridgeshire will now get a free, healthy meal every school day, and parents will be nearly £500 a year better off." READ MORE: Cambs woman appears on ITV's Good Morning Britain The Labour Government's initiative is part of a broader effort to establish a healthier, more sustainable food system. This includes a £13 million investment in food charities and working with experts to update school food standards. The expansion aligns with other elements of Labour's Plan for Change, which includes free breakfast clubs, expanded childcare for working parents, and measures to make school uniforms more affordable. These efforts aim to break the link between children's backgrounds and their opportunities. Keep up to date with the latest news across Peterborough by signing up to our newsletter email alerts here Have you got a story you want to share with us? Get in touch at: news@
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rail challenger to take on Labour's nationalised trains
Private train operator Lumo is plotting a range of new services across Britain in a direct challenge to Labour's nationalised rail network. FirstGroup, which owns the low-cost rail company, is looking to expand operations after already announcing plans to triple Lumo's passenger count to 10m a year with the addition of five new routes. Graham Sutherland, the chief executive, said FirstGroup is now studying population growth and housebuilding plans to determine where is best to introduce new routes. However, he said the company is particularly keen to restore direct services to London from small towns across the UK, while it is also exploring the possibility of launching trains between poorly connected regional centres. He said: 'Obviously it gets harder the further you get through it, but we feel there are other opportunities still to come out over time. 'Anything we are looking at is commercially sensitive. But the basic criteria is do we think there are under-served areas in terms of rail and do we have an opportunity to drive modal shift and get people out of their cars.' It comes after Labour sent out mixed messages on the continuation of private rail services following the launch of its state-backed railway company, Great British Railways (GBR). Privatised 'open-access' operators, which are not paid by the Government to run services and make their money only from passenger fares, are due to remain in private hands, according to the blueprint for GBR. However, Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, wrote to the industry regulator in January advising it to adopt a more rigorous stance on approving open-access applications. GBR is set to be fully operational by next year. Meanwhile, The Telegraph revealed last month that LNER, which is already government-run, is predicted to lose out on £1bn in ticket sales to private operators offering cheaper fares. Mr Sutherland said open access is no threat to the nationalised railway, claiming instead that competition helps to improve standards and attract new customers. Mr Sutherland added that further routes targeted by Lumo were likely to conform to its existing long-distance model. FirstGroup currently operates open-access services along the east coast main line from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and Hull via Lumo and sister brand Hull Trains, which it plans to extend to Glasgow and Sheffield respectively. A further two new routes are guaranteed, one from London Euston to Stirling, in Scotland, and the other from London Paddington to Carmarthen, in south Wales, after FirstGroup bought access rights from Arriva's Grand Union. FirstGroup has also lodged applications with the Office of Rail and Road to run trains from Euston to Rochdale via Manchester and from Paddington to Hereford and Paignton, Devon. Should the company succeed in expanding to all seven routes, its open-access revenue should jump from £106m to around £300m, Mr Sutherland said. FirstGroup's South Western Railway became the first to be seized by Labour last month and will be followed by its remaining Avanti West Coast and Great Western franchises. 擷取數據時發生錯誤 登入存取你的投資組合 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤
