Latest news with #policepowers
BBC News
21 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Chatham MP says new powers will tackle 'menace' of nuisance bikes
An MP says a change in the law will strengthen the police's power to tackle the "menace" of nuisance new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill, currently going through Parliament, will mean police can seize and crush vehicles without advance warning. It comes after residents have described parts of Chatham as like the "wild west", with reports of gangs of people on motorbikes and quadbikes speeding across parks, taking over streets and threatening members of the Osborne, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, says the previous rules didn't allow vehicles to be seized unless the rider had committed multiple offences, but the new law will act as a "deterrent". Police usually classify 'nuisance vehicle' crimes as people gathering in gangs on bikes or quad resident Daniel Baptist says he's noticed gangs of "20 plus motorbikes going up and down the local streets"."They won't be wearing helmets, some of them," he said."Some of them are on e-bikes, some are on illegal scramblers."It frightens the hell out of some of the older residents in the area. They can be extremely noisy. Especially when you've got gangs of 20 of them riding up the road at the same time."It can be extremely noisy and quite intimidating." Last year, Medway Council attempted to tackle the issue by introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) across Medway, meaning any motorist or bike rider caught causing nuisance could be fined and taken to some residents say people are still gathering and carrying out anti-social behaviour on their vehicles at sites like Barnfield Recreation Ground in Chatham, despite the strengthened powers available to local issue is documented by a social media profile called @Barnfield_Bikes. The owner of the account spoke to the BBC but didn't want to be identified for fear of his said: "There have been incidents where residents have been threatened because they've challenged riders. They've ridden around them in an intimidatory manner."It's out of control… like the Wild West." Insp Paul Diddams, from the Medway Community Safety Unit at Kent Police, said the area "remains a priority for both uniformed and plain clothed officers"."Over the last five weeks patrols, both on foot and in vehicles, have attended 32 times," he said."These patrols included attendance on nine separate occasions over the past weekend."Alex Paterson, councillor for community safety, highways and enforcement on Medway Council, says there have been 106 fixed penalty notices issued across Medway since the introduction of the said it was "clear that police are using their powers", despite it sometimes being "dangerous" for welcomed the government's plans to allow officers to seize vehicles on a first offence."We are keen to give the police as many tools as we can to tackle this so I would welcome anything that sent a clearer message to the criminals".
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Yobs wreaking havoc with e-scooters, bikes and cars will see them CRUSHED within 48 hours under crackdown
YOBS who terrorise towns with off-road bikes, e-scooters and cars will have them crushed within 48 hours under new police powers. Ministers plan to reduce the time cops can destroy thugs' vehicles from two weeks to two days so they have less chance to retrieve them. 1 Officers have complained that the current 14-day window creates a 'revolving door' where louts have time to reclaim their bikes and cars to keep wreaking havoc. The Home Office has launched a consultation on their proposals to tackle the scourge of anti-social behaviour blighting communities. Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 'Anti-social and reckless driving brings misery to communities across the country, from dangerous street racing to off-road bikes tearing through local parks. "By enabling police to seize and dispose of these vehicles within just 48 hours, we're giving our officers the tools they need to deliver immediate results and providing communities the swift justice they deserve.' Labour are also looking to hike the fines for the cost of seizing, towing and crushing vehicles. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has already announced powers for police to seize bikes, e-scooters and cars without warning. The problem of nuisance driving has become so bad that some forces have launched dedicated operations to combat it. Operation Vulcan in Oldham has been targeting e-bikes, four of which were seized after their drivers were arrested for drug supply. National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Jo Shiner, said: 'Anti-social use of a vehicle, such as street racing, street cruising or off-road use is more than a matter of noise pollution. 'It can have long-term effects on a neighbourhood, with the criminal damage of roads, other vehicles and surrounding property.'
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Handing NHS staff police powers to detain mental health patients would have dangerous consequences, health bodies warn
Lawmakers have been issued a stark warning over plans to extend police powers to NHS staff allowing them to detain mental health patients, with a group of major health organisations expressing 'grave concerns' over the proposed changes. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the Royal College of Nursing and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services are among those saying proposed changes to the Mental Health Bill will cause 'significant harm with dangerous consequences.' In March, the government suffered several defeats in the Lords as peers debated ways to modernise mental health legislation. Conservative shadow health minister Lord Kamall proposed a change to the Mental Health Bill so that nurses, doctors and other staff could carry out detentions of patients without the need for police officers to attend incidents. Health minister Baroness Merron told the Lords the government did not support 'extending police powers in this way' but peers backed the Conservative proposal, resulting in changes to the draft new law. The changes - which come after concerns were repeatedly raised about the pressures mental health issues are placing on policing - mean powers previously reserved only for police could be transferred to health or other professionals to detain and restrain people in crisis, in public spaces or at home. Launching a joint statement, major health organisations have expressed 'grave concerns' and argue the 'police play a crucial role in carrying out many tasks that medical practitioners cannot perform, such as assessing whether a home is safe to enter'. They said 'reducing police involvement in mental health emergencies could lead to serious risks for both patients and clinicians.' The joint statement said wording accompanying the amendment 'states that 'the proposed amendments would remove the need for the presence of police at mental health incidents in the absence of any risk.' 'This is misleading as instances of detentions under the Mental Health Act where there is no risk are almost non-existent. 'It also negates the fact that the mere presence of uniformed officers can ensure that an otherwise risky situation remains contained and safe.' They also warned that transferring police powers to health professionals risks damaging their 'therapeutic relationships' with patients, meaning it has the 'double-effect' of hindering the ability to provide care, while also deterring people from seeking help from services where they might be forcibly detained. The organisations said the changes 'have not been tested' with health professionals or discussed with patients. 'We are keen to work with police and government to find ways to improve responses to mental health crises to ensure the safety of all professionals involved, patients and the community', the statement adds. It comes after the NHS unveiled plans to open more mental health crisis centres across England in a bid to keep those patients out of crowded A&Es. The new service, staffed by specialist doctors and nurses, will be open to patients who present symptoms of a mental health crisis, such as suicidal thoughts or psychosis. Ten NHS trusts have already launched separate units for mental health emergencies, some on the sites of existing A&Es, which are open to walk-in patients are well as those referred to the service by GPs and police. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said delegating police powers to health professionals 'would not be within the spirit' of the proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act. She warned: 'It is well known that at times, people experiencing a mental health crisis cannot be safely reached and cared for without the assistance of the police. 'Delegating police powers without proper consultation or planning is likely to disproportionately affect those from minoritised backgrounds and would increase risk to patients and compromise the safety of others. It sets a dangerous precedent. 'Like mental health services, the police are facing significant workload pressures. 'It is simply logical and now vital that we work together to develop more effective ways of responding to mental health crises.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Extending police powers to other professionals would represent a major shift in the roles, responsibilities and practice for health and care staff and would place additional resource on an already stretched NHS at a time where we are trying to rebuild a health service fit for the future. 'It also raises questions around whether it is right for the health and social care professionals to have powers to use reasonable force which could have implications for patient, public and staff safety, as well as potentially damaging the relationships clinicians have with patients. 'We are grateful to health and social care stakeholders for their in-depth engagement on this complex issue.'
CBC
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Ontario's stop and search proposal could violate people's rights, experts say
The Ontario government says it wants to give police more powers to stop and search vehicles without a search warrant, in a new effort to stop car thieves. But as CBC's Britnei Bilhete reports, some criminal lawyers say the move could violate people's rights and lead to racial profiling.
