Community policing is key to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour

Under the Conservatives, the proportion of people who saw police on the beat more than once a week more than halved, as did the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

Our Labour government is reversing that trend. Last weekend, four of our five new neighbourhood officers were on the beat in High Peak for the first time, while two new PCSOs have already started. They’re part of 35 extra neighbourhood officers being recruited across Derbyshire thanks to £2.8m in new government funding.

Alongside this, the government’s new Crime and Policing Bill is progressing through Parliament. Residents consistently tell me how important it is to crack down on vandalism, abuse and disorder. Nobody has the “right” to make their neighbours’ lives hell. I strongly support this bill, particularly measures like new “respect orders” to make it easier to arrest repeat offenders.

I also welcome plans to tackle fly-tipping. Residents are fed up with waste being dumped in our streets and green spaces. I support forcing offenders to clear up their mess in local clean-up squads and pay the costs, alongside extra penalty points on driving licences to deter repeat offences.

However, while Labour is cracking down on fly-tipping, Reform-led Derbyshire County Council risk making things worse by closing Glossop tip. Whilst law-abiding citizens would be forced to undertake an over an hour-long roundtrip to Buxton tip increasing congestion and queues; I fear it will result in some just dumping their waste in our communities.

Reform’s rubbish plan shows a total lack of understanding of our area. They are still relying on their dodgy data – claiming 7 in 10 users aren’t from High Peak. Well, when I was down the tip last week getting people to sign my petition, the queues were long and I met only one person from outside the area. If you haven’t already, please do sign my petition on my website.

Sometimes antisocial behaviour is malicious, sometimes it’s just unthinking – either way, the consequences can be severe. Over the past week, we’ve seen some really concerning moorland fires – in Tintwistle and Woodhead reservoir near Glossop.

I’m grateful to our fire services and echo their warnings: don’t throw cigarettes from cars or leave glass behind. In hot, dry weather, this can spark dangerous wildfires. Portable BBQs pose a similar risk. Last year, I asked High Peak retailers to stop selling disposable BBQs, and Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Aldi and M&S agreed. I’ll be contacting them all again this year.

Tackling crime and antisocial behaviour is rightly a priority for this government. But we all have a duty to each other to take responsibility and to respect our neighbours and communities.