Emma Hardy, the MP for Hull West and Hessle, has called on the Government to act proactively to prevent crime and promote victims rights to end the merry-go-round of constantly shifting crime spots in Hull and Hessle.
Speaking in Parliament, Emma called for a long term solution including investment in education, community support and investment in the police. She asked the government to follow Labour’s lead and commit to 10,000 more front line police officers. She also asked them to support her campaign for youth provision to be made statutory.
Emma raised concerns that without these changes problems with crime would just be moved around the city without dealing with the cause of the problems or providing an adequate long term solution. In the speech, Emma described this as ‘fire- fighting without dealing with the cause.’
The speech comes in the wake of a number of incidents in different areas in Hull.
Emma has received several reports of anti- social behaviour in Hessle about groups of youths who are, amongst other things, running in front of buses to make them have to perform emergency stops, damaging property, shouting insults at elderly residents as they race past on bikes.
In Great Thornton Street, another inner- city tower block, many are being subjected to hate crime and aggression and are witnessing to drug abuse, violence and even human faeces in the corridor outside their home.
Meanwhile Bean Street has been plagued by drug taking and anti-social behaviour. On more than one occasion, a nearby park has attracted drinkers and drug users have been seen shooting up in broad daylight.
Emma’s demands included:
- A single point of contact and single complaints system where you can go if you want to make a complaint.
- Taking action to ensure when victims phone 101 the phone is answered quickly.
- Ensuring that there is better communication with victims about the outcome of their cases.
- A more powerful victims’ commissioner to make sure that victims can make their voices heard.
Commenting after the debate, Emma said “For far too long, victims of crime have been left without a voice. By listening to these proposals and acting proactively to prevent crime and promote victims’ rights, the government have a chance to end the merry-go-round of constantly shifting crime hot spots. I’ll be pushing the government to accept these proposals. I am currently arranging residents meetings with the police for both Hessle, Bean Street and Great Thornton Street and I want to support the communities in the same way which I did with Spring Bank, a part of Hull’s city centre, where menacing gangs were previously caught fighting, swearing, urinating, defecating and drinking alcohol on the street. I’ll also be pushing the government to provide more funding to pay for these provisions.”
