Latest news with #Philp
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Police officer fall mapped as bungling top Tory mocked for whining about own record
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has been urged to show some 'humility' after going on the affack after a drop in police that happened on his watch - use our interactive tool to see how you are affected A top Tory has been left red-faced after accidentally attacking his own record in Government. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp went on the attack after official data showed a decline in police officer numbers of 1,316 between March 2024 and March 2025. However closer analysis shows that 1,232 of these posts were lost while he was policing minister last year. After a sharp drop last Spring - when around 400 officers were lost a week - numbers were more stable from the summer. In a video shared on social media, Mr Philp branded the fall "shocking" and said: "Under Labour numbers have fallen by 1,300 already." Labour Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 'Chris Philp has managed to attack his own record in Government, and advertised cuts to policing that he presided over. He was Policing Minister in a Government which cut PCSOs in half and slashed the number of Special Constables by two-thirds. Some humility would not go amiss. She said he was lucky he made the bungled attack after Kemi Badenoch reshuffled her top team. Dame Diana went on: 'This Labour Government is putting bobbies back on the beat, with a £200m cash injection to fund 3000 more officers and PCSOs this year alone as part of our Plan for Change.' Management information collected by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), officer numbers fell by 1,232 between March 2024 and June 2024 and by 84 between July 2024 and March 2025. In April Keir Starmer announced a 'summer crime blitz' where police will patrol town centres targeting shoplifters, pickpockets, phone thieves and anyone who assaults a shop worker. The government's 'Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee' aims to put 13,000 more officers into neighbourhood roles by 2029, an increase of more than 50%. The PM also said he wanted 3,000 new neighbourhood officers - including 2,500 police officers and nearly 400 police community support officers (PCSOs) - in post by the start of next year. The proposals aim to ensure that every community has its own named, contactable officers, dedicated teams on the beat, and guaranteed police patrols in town centres and other hotspot areas during peak times. It followed a Home Office announcement in January of an extra £100 million for neighbourhood policing in England and Wales. Excluding British Transport Police, there were 146,454 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in England and Wales as of March 31, 2025. While that is less than a 1% fall from the previous year, it represents 1,307 fewer FTE officers. At the same time, PCSO numbers have dropped by 257 (3%), from 7,570 in 2024 to 7,313 FTE roles. The Met Police has seen by far the biggest drop in officer numbers, losing the equivalent of 1,020 FTE police officers. However, the Met did gain 78 additional PCSOs. South Wales Police lost the equivalent of 23 FTE officers and 77 PCSOs. Greater Manchester Police saw a reduction of 30 FTE police officers and 40 PCSOs, and Hertfordshire Constabulary saw numbers drop by 54 officers and 14 PCSOs. But not every force has seen a reduction. Bedfordshire Police gained 24 FTE officers and 10 PCSOs. North Wales Police recruited 17 extra police and 12 community support officers, and while West Yorkshire Police lost 35 PCSOs, the force gained 64 FTE police officers. Compared to the size of the population each force serves, the Met remains the best-resourced police force in the country. For every 10,000 people living in London, there are the equivalent of 39 police and community support officers. The Met is followed by Merseyside Police (30 officers per 10,000 people), Greater Manchester Police (29), and South Wales Police (29). Lincolnshire Police has the lowest ratio of officers to people, with 16 police and PCSOs for every 10,000 of the population. A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are determined to rebuild neighbourhood policing, and as part of our Plan for Change, will put an extra 3,000 police and Community Support Officers on the beat by Spring next year, backed by a £1.2 billion cash investment. 'Ahead of that, forces across the country are rolling out named, contactable officers and high street patrols at peak times.'
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Women facing ‘public safety crisis' as a result of immigration, Tories claim
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp also said the public are 'rightly sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave', but added 'violent protests' are not justified. It comes after six people were arrested following a protest outside an Essex hotel believed to house asylum seekers. A series of protests have taken place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault after an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said it is 'vital that the criminal justice procedures are able to run their course'. She added that the Government takes any allegation of sexual assault 'incredibly serious', and it is changing the law to ensure those convicted of sexual offence are not granted asylum. In an urgent question, Mr Philp claimed 'this year has been by far the worst ever' for immigration, with 23,000 migrants crossing the Channel so far. He added: 'Numbers in asylum hotels are now higher than at the time of the election. This is a border security crisis, but it is also a public safety crisis, especially for women and girls. 'Many nationalities crossing, for example, Afghans commit up to 20 times more sex offences than average. Louise Casey made that point in her report, and now we have press reporting on the huge scale of the crime committed by illegal immigrants housed in the Government's own asylum hotels.' Mr Philp continued: 'Those crimes included multiple cases of rape, sexual assault, violence, theft and arson, including the case in Epping she referred to where a 38-year-old Ethiopian man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. 'An illegal immigrant in Oxford has been convicted of raping a 20-year-old woman in a churchyard. A Sudanese man was convicted of strangling and attempting to rape a woman in a nightclub toilet in Wakefield. 'Now violent protest in response to those appalling crimes is never justified. The public, though, are rightly sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave. It has to end.' He urged the minister to 'record and publish the immigration status of all offenders', and to close the hotel in Epping. Dame Diana replied: 'Any allegation of crime or sexual assault is incredibly serious, including by individuals in the asylum system, and it is to be treated so by the authorities and treated so by this Government.' She had earlier told the Commons: 'In the first year this Government has been in office, 5,179 foreign national criminals were removed from the UK – a 14% increase on the previous year. 'That is important progress, but we want to go further. We are changing the law in the Border Security Bill to ensure individuals convicted of any registered sexual offence are not granted asylum. 'We are legislating to allow for the tagging of any migrant considered to pose a threat to public safety or national security, as well as strengthening our crackdown on illegal working, but we must go further to end hotel use.'
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Women facing ‘public safety crisis' as a result of immigration, Tories claim
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp also said the public are 'rightly sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave', but added 'violent protests' are not justified. It comes after six people were arrested following a protest outside an Essex hotel believed to house asylum seekers. A series of protests have taken place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault after an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said it is 'vital that the criminal justice procedures are able to run their course'. She added that the Government takes any allegation of sexual assault 'incredibly serious', and it is changing the law to ensure those convicted of sexual offence are not granted asylum. In an urgent question, Mr Philp claimed 'this year has been by far the worst ever' for immigration, with 23,000 migrants crossing the Channel so far. He added: 'Numbers in asylum hotels are now higher than at the time of the election. This is a border security crisis, but it is also a public safety crisis, especially for women and girls. 'Many nationalities crossing, for example, Afghans commit up to 20 times more sex offences than average. Louise Casey made that point in her report, and now we have press reporting on the huge scale of the crime committed by illegal immigrants housed in the Government's own asylum hotels.' Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Mr Philp continued: 'Those crimes included multiple cases of rape, sexual assault, violence, theft and arson, including the case in Epping she referred to where a 38-year-old Ethiopian man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. 'An illegal immigrant in Oxford has been convicted of raping a 20-year-old woman in a churchyard. A Sudanese man was convicted of strangling and attempting to rape a woman in a nightclub toilet in Wakefield. 'Now violent protest in response to those appalling crimes is never justified. The public, though, are rightly sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave. It has to end.' He urged the minister to 'record and publish the immigration status of all offenders', and to close the hotel in Epping. Dame Diana replied: 'Any allegation of crime or sexual assault is incredibly serious, including by individuals in the asylum system, and it is to be treated so by the authorities and treated so by this Government.' She had earlier told the Commons: 'In the first year this Government has been in office, 5,179 foreign national criminals were removed from the UK – a 14% increase on the previous year. 'That is important progress, but we want to go further. We are changing the law in the Border Security Bill to ensure individuals convicted of any registered sexual offence are not granted asylum. 'We are legislating to allow for the tagging of any migrant considered to pose a threat to public safety or national security, as well as strengthening our crackdown on illegal working, but we must go further to end hotel use.'
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Women facing ‘public safety crisis' as a result of immigration, Tories claim
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp also said the public are 'rightly sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave', but added 'violent protests' are not justified. It comes after six people were arrested following a protest outside an Essex hotel believed to house asylum seekers. A series of protests have taken place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault after an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said it is 'vital that the criminal justice procedures are able to run their course'. She added that the Government takes any allegation of sexual assault 'incredibly serious', and it is changing the law to ensure those convicted of sexual offence are not granted asylum. In an urgent question, Mr Philp claimed 'this year has been by far the worst ever' for immigration, with 23,000 migrants crossing the Channel so far. He added: 'Numbers in asylum hotels are now higher than at the time of the election. This is a border security crisis, but it is also a public safety crisis, especially for women and girls. 'Many nationalities crossing, for example, Afghans commit up to 20 times more sex offences than average. Louise Casey made that point in her report, and now we have press reporting on the huge scale of the crime committed by illegal immigrants housed in the Government's own asylum hotels.' Mr Philp continued: 'Those crimes included multiple cases of rape, sexual assault, violence, theft and arson, including the case in Epping she referred to where a 38-year-old Ethiopian man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. 'An illegal immigrant in Oxford has been convicted of raping a 20-year-old woman in a churchyard. A Sudanese man was convicted of strangling and attempting to rape a woman in a nightclub toilet in Wakefield. 'Now violent protest in response to those appalling crimes is never justified. The public, though, are rightly sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave. It has to end.' He urged the minister to 'record and publish the immigration status of all offenders', and to close the hotel in Epping. Dame Diana replied: 'Any allegation of crime or sexual assault is incredibly serious, including by individuals in the asylum system, and it is to be treated so by the authorities and treated so by this Government.' She had earlier told the Commons: 'In the first year this Government has been in office, 5,179 foreign national criminals were removed from the UK – a 14% increase on the previous year. 'That is important progress, but we want to go further. We are changing the law in the Border Security Bill to ensure individuals convicted of any registered sexual offence are not granted asylum. 'We are legislating to allow for the tagging of any migrant considered to pose a threat to public safety or national security, as well as strengthening our crackdown on illegal working, but we must go further to end hotel use.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Women facing ‘public safety crisis' as a result of immigration, Tories claim
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp also said the public are 'rightly sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave', but added 'violent protests' are not justified. It comes after six people were arrested following a protest outside an Essex hotel believed to house asylum seekers. A series of protests have taken place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault after an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said it is 'vital that the criminal justice procedures are able to run their course'. She added that the Government takes any allegation of sexual assault 'incredibly serious', and it is changing the law to ensure those convicted of sexual offence are not granted asylum. In an urgent question, Mr Philp claimed 'this year has been by far the worst ever' for immigration, with 23,000 migrants crossing the Channel so far. He added: 'Numbers in asylum hotels are now higher than at the time of the election. This is a border security crisis, but it is also a public safety crisis, especially for women and girls. 'Many nationalities crossing, for example, Afghans commit up to 20 times more sex offences than average. Louise Casey made that point in her report, and now we have press reporting on the huge scale of the crime committed by illegal immigrants housed in the Government's own asylum hotels.' Mr Philp continued: 'Those crimes included multiple cases of rape, sexual assault, violence, theft and arson, including the case in Epping she referred to where a 38-year-old Ethiopian man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. 'An illegal immigrant in Oxford has been convicted of raping a 20-year-old woman in a churchyard. A Sudanese man was convicted of strangling and attempting to rape a woman in a nightclub toilet in Wakefield. 'Now violent protest in response to those appalling crimes is never justified. The public, though, are rightly sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave. It has to end.' He urged the minister to 'record and publish the immigration status of all offenders', and to close the hotel in Epping. Dame Diana replied: 'Any allegation of crime or sexual assault is incredibly serious, including by individuals in the asylum system, and it is to be treated so by the authorities and treated so by this Government.' She had earlier told the Commons: 'In the first year this Government has been in office, 5,179 foreign national criminals were removed from the UK – a 14% increase on the previous year. 'That is important progress, but we want to go further. We are changing the law in the Border Security Bill to ensure individuals convicted of any registered sexual offence are not granted asylum. 'We are legislating to allow for the tagging of any migrant considered to pose a threat to public safety or national security, as well as strengthening our crackdown on illegal working, but we must go further to end hotel use.'
