During Home Office questions in Parliament, on Monday (22 March), High Peak MP Robert Largan was able to press the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, on tackling crime in Derbyshire.
The High Peak MP asked about cooperation between local police forces in tackling theft:
“Recently, gangs of bicycle and car thieves have been targeting the High Peak, travelling into the area from Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. Derbyshire police is working hard to try to tackle this problem, but can I urge the Home Secretary to do more to ensure that the different police forces, including the British Transport police, work more closely together to tackle the criminal gangs that operate over county lines?”
In response, the Home Secretary agreed with Robert, outlining the Government’s action on the issue for High Peak residents:
“My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the blended way in which forces should come together, because county lines cross boundaries. Whether it is the British Transport police, his own police or the neighbouring forces, we need them to pull together to deal with the level of criminality that he has spoken about. That is taking place on one of the biggest issues that faces our country, which is county lines drug gangs. He will know, from when we have spoken previously, of the great operational work that is taking place across our police forces and intelligence agencies to go after the criminals that are out there pursuing such high-harm crimes.”
This builds on the Home Secretary’s recent announcement of a £148 million investment to deliver a system-wide approach to tackling drug crime, helping protect communities across the country from its devastating effects.
Robert Largan MP commented:
“I am deeply concerned by how bicycle and car thieves are targeting the High Peak, often coming into the area from places like Greater Manchester.
“I will continue working with Derbyshire Constabulary and the Home Secretary to help ensure police forces can work together across county lines. We must do all that we can to bring these criminal gangs to justice and protect High Peak residents.”
