Phone thieves and anti-social behaviour targeted in crime bill | Global News Avenue

Under major legislation on theft, street crime and anti-social behavior, police will gain new powers without the authority to search homes.

Crime and Police Act It is at the heart of what the government calls a “safer street mission” and ministers hope to become law by the end of the year.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that the bill would address the “epidemic of street theft”, including the rise in cell phone and bag robbery and shopping burglary, and introduced a new “respect order” ”, which is restrictively similar to the antisocial behavior order (ASBOS).

The Conservatives said the plans had been “copied and pasted from the last government announcement.”

The bill, to be unveiled in Parliament on Tuesday, brings together many of the measures proposed in the Labor Party’s general election manifesto.

But they have questions about whether police have the funds to develop government plans.

Under the bill, police will gain the right to have no right to enter and search the property without a court authorization letter to obtain stolen cell phones or other electronically tracked items, such as laptops or Bluetooth-marked bicycles.

Power means victims of cell phone theft who track their devices in the hands of criminals can call on police to recover quickly.

Cooper told BBC Radio 4’s Today Show that she understood the “incredible frustration” of the victims of phone theft, and they said “I can track it, I can see where it is – it’s in this place A specific house, in this particular location”.

“However, the police cannot behave quickly enough to be tracked,” she added.

“We have to have stronger power and action (and) the police say they welcome that,” Cooper said.

When asked about the reliability of the location app, where people can use another device to help track the location of their missing or stolen phones for police searches, Cooper told BBC Breakfast: “Police will not be allowed.” Not making a decision () needs to be signed by a police inspector and (they will) need to decide evidence enough to enable them to take action.”

She added that the bill would include the removal of the “ridiculous” £200 threshold for shoplifting, meaning police have not yet stolen the lower theft value.

The bill also includes a government-proposed “respect order” – the restrictions imposed by the court would be similar to the anti-social behavior order (ASBO) developed in the era of Tony Blair, which was then scrapped by the conservative and liberal Democratic coalition a decade ago.

Critics say that despite being popular among voters, these restrictions often become unfeasible or poorly enforced.

The proposed respect order has allowed the court to impose restrictions on individual behavior as Asbo.

But they can also force them to take programs like addiction treatment or anger management courses to change their ways.

Other measures previously announced by the bill include:

• The crime of beating a shop worker – also a conservative commitment ahead of the 2024 election.
• New police officers who do not warn off-road bikes or electronic gunners have power.
• The new attack of Peak Drink is separated from the current attack method.
• Grant judges the right to issue stalking prevention orders against suspects, even if they did not commit a crime.

With the bill passing parliament, another power that has been announced to be increased will force online retailers to remind police of large or suspicious knives.

The Home Office said the goal of the bill will be delivered by recruiting another 13,000 neighborhood officials by 2029 – a dedicated commitment that the department has promised £200 million.

The National Council of Police Chiefs (NPCC) said last year that the troops faced a £1.3 billion funding gap, and that there was no equal share of cash between troops due to outdated regulations.

Since then, the Home Office has confirmed that it will provide £1.1 billion for police as of April 2026.

But the NPCC warns that if a “safer street” program is to be offered, the troops will need a compensation settlement to help them attract and retain the best officials.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Labor has 14 years to come up with new ideas, but everything they do is copy and paste what the previous administration has announced.

“Labor’s funding settlement with police next year, after considering wages rise, inflation and national insurance rate hikes, their funding settlement is £118 million – putting 1,800 police officers at risk.

“Police warned that this year will be worse due to insufficient funding settlements from Labor.”