I know people across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire are as proud of our area as I am. Whether it’s our creative talent our, our rich heritage or the friendliness of our people, we have much to be proud of and I want to see our communities flourish into the future. However, unfortunately, our towns and communities across North Staffordshire have been blighted by antisocial behaviour and the horrors caused by monkey dust. Thankfully, work to crack down on this unwanted behaviour is well underway and those wishing to bring crime into our city had better take notice.
My residents want to be able to go into their town centres and feel safe, and as your MP, it is one of my top priorities to ensure you can do so. I have been working closely with Staffordshire Police and our excellent Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams to address concerns relating to antisocial behaviour locally.
I have frequently been raising concerns about antisocial behaviour and the harm caused by the horrific drug monkey dust with Ministers and in Parliament. For this reason, just before the new year I welcomed the news of additional police funding totalling £262.7 million for Staffordshire which is an increase of £16.1 million on last year– 6.5 per cent.
This new funding is a 30.7 per cent rise in cash terms compared to 2019-20, as part of the Government’s long-term efforts to cut crime and keep our communities safe. The proposed package for 2024-25 could see a total of up to £18.4 billion pledged to support the police to cut crime, tackle anti-social behaviour and pursue county lines gangs.
This additional funding for our police from the Government is excellent news for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. This funding, alongside the 333 new police officers in Staffordshire, will make our streets safer and help cut crime.
Before the new year, the Government also introduced five new laws to keep our streets safe. These will ensure criminals are locked up for longer, victims are protected, with police and intelligence services given further powers to protect the public – delivering on the promise to clamp down on crime.
This also comes on the back on a recent announcement £250,000 is to be invested in tackling anti-social behaviour in Longton as part of the latest round of the Government’s Safer Streets Fund. This follows funding already delivered for community safety improvements in Blurton and Fenton.
In Longton this will deliver a range of measures but especially new CCTV cameras and alleyway gates in key locations. Together, they will not only act as a strong deterrent to the mindless vandals and criminals who target our shops and businesses, but also help to build better evidence for the Police to ensure criminals who target our high street face the full force of the law. Ensuring people feel safe to shop and visit the town centre.
Whilst efforts are well underway to crack down on crime in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, I am still keen to hear more from you.
Currently, I am contacting households from across my constituency and in North Staffordshire to hear their views on crime and antisocial behaviour in our communities. My survey will take residents a couple of minutes and is a great way for you to give your feedback. I will then be working with our local Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams, and colleagues in Westminster on reviewing the feedback and addressing areas of concern raised.
For residents who wish to fill the survey out online, please visit:
www.jackbrereton.co.uk/campaigns/crime-and-antisocial-behaviour-survey
Residents will be aware of my ongoing campaign to see monkey dust reclassified to a Class A drug. Currently, monkey dust is a Class B drug which means you’d get a maximum sentence of 14 years and a fine if you make it or supply it, in reality most are not even getting a custodial sentence. If it becomes a Class A drug, this would change. You would face up to life in prison, meaning that those supplying and producing monkey dust can receive the harshest of sentences.
Late last year, I secured a debate in Parliament which the Minister for Crime, Policing, and Fire, Chris Philp MP, committed to a formal review of monkey dust and synthetic cathinones. This review by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is now well underway and I have continued to assist the Government in gathering the necessary evidence. I will be meeting again with the Minister this week to discuss the review which will conclude before the end of the year leading to a recommendation on reclassification.
Until then, I will continue to make the case of why this is so important and working with all those organisations locally who are responding to the harm caused by this horrific drug, ensure the ACMD has all the data and evidence necessary to justify reclassification.
