Crime hits the poorest hardest and at its worst robs people of their lives, their livelihoods and their sense of security.
As criminals adapt and evolve, so must we, ensuring that our laws keep pace with these criminals and their use of technology.
Since 2010, like for like overall crime has more than halved.
The Government’s Criminal Justice Bill will accelerate the fight against crime even further.
It will improve public safety and public confidence by giving the police the powers they need to crack down on criminals and ensuring that those who pose the biggest threat are imprisoned for longer.
We, the law-abiding majority, all have the right to go about our lawful business safely on our streets.
The Criminal Justice Bill will improve our safety and the quality of life in our neighbourhoods thanks to tougher and smarter action on theft, drugs, intimidation, anti-social behaviour and serious and organised crime.
SUELLA BRAVERMAN: As criminals adapt and evolve, so must we, ensuring that our laws keep pace with these criminals and their use of technology
Neighbourhoods will not be safe until they are rid of knives and knife carriers.
The Criminal Justice Bill will further strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to clamp down on knife crime, by creating a power for police to seize, retain and destroy bladed articles found on private property; increasing the maximum penalty for the sale of prohibited weapons and knives to under-18s; and creating a criminal offence of possessing a bladed article with the intent to use it violently.
Likewise, neighbourhoods will not be safe until they are rid of drugs and anti-social behaviour.
The Bill will expand police powers to test suspects for a wider range of drugs.
Police will have more levers to tackle anti-social behaviour that blights communities.
New measures will address nuisance begging which causes harassment or distress to the public.
Vulnerable people will be encouraged to take up offers of appropriate help, including accommodation, mental health support and substance misuse support.
As I have been saying since I became Home Secretary, the public expect the police to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry.
I have secured agreement from chief constables to do just that.
The Bill creates new powers for the police to enter properties to search for and seize stolen goods – cutting red tape and empowering officers to tackle those prolific thieves who prey upon us all.
Downing Street said a new Sentencing Bill will extend whole-life tariffs – meaning killers have no possibility of parole – to ‘any murder involving sexual or sadistic conduct’
Now, if a police officer believes a thief is hiding your belongings, such as a mobile phone or laptop, in their property then they can bust in to retrieve it without needing a search warrant.
The Bill also reflects the changing demands brought by new technology.
Things like templates used to make 3D printed firearms, pill presses, and signal jammers used for car theft that are beloved by serious organised crime gangs. They will be banned.
Stronger Serious Crime Prevention Orders will make it easier for police and other law enforcement agencies to place restrictions on offenders or suspected offenders and stop them from participating in further crime.
Law enforcement agencies will be better placed to tackle fraud and economic crime.
The Bill prohibits the possession and supply of SIM farms with no legitimate purpose; reforms the confiscation powers used to strip convicted criminals of the proceeds of crime; and makes it easier to suspend IP addresses and domain names used for fraud.
Wayne Couzens, the former Met Police officer who abducted and later murdered Sarah Everard
Under a new scheme the Government will work with the financial sector to utilise monies in accounts suspended on suspicion of criminal activity to fund projects to tackle economic crime.
Judges will have the power to order an offender to attend their hearings, with up to two years behind bars for those who refuse.
It will be clear in law that reasonable force can be used to make criminals appear in the dock.
It is a further slap in the face to victims when offenders stay in their prison cell.
They should be made to face the music in person.
Victims and the wider public alike want to see longer sentences for the worst offenders.
The Tories will put crime and sentencing at the heart of their legislative programme for the coming year (Stock Image)
Those involved in grooming gangs, or who murder their former partner at the end of a relationship, will face longer sentences.
There are new criminal offences around the taking of intimate images and a new broader offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm.
We will also strengthen the management of those convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour.
It is vital that there are enough prison places to protect the public.
The Bill will make it possible to transfer prisoners in and out of England and Wales so that they can be held in prisons abroad.
This is on top of building 20,000 new prison places – the biggest prison building project since the Victorian era.
Finally, the public must have confidence that they can rely on every police officer.
Following the publication of the Casey Review and our own dismissals review, the Bill will enable Chief Officers of police forces to be given the right to appeal the outcome or findings of misconduct panels.
There is no higher duty for government than keeping the citizens it serves safe.
As the Criminal Justice Bill proves, this government stands foursquare with the law-abiding majority.