As part of a broader crackdown on street crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB), the UK Government launched today its new Crime and Policing Bill. Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said that this bill would “help take back control of town centres”.
Specifically, it will:
· Allow police to act quickly with warrantless searches for stolen phones and geotagged items
· Make it an offence to use a child to commit criminal activity, to protect children exploited by gangs
· Introduce ‘Respect Orders’ under which people who regularly engage in ASB behaviour could be jailed for up to two years
· Scrap a law that classified shoplifting of items worth under £200 as less serious than other retail theft
· Make assaulting a shop worker an offence
· Allow police to seize without warning off-road bikes or e-scooters
· Make spiking drinks an offence
· Outlaw cuckooing where criminals use the homes of vulnerable people as bases for crimes
· Give judges the power to issue a Stalking Prevention Order against a suspect
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