Stamping Out Teen Binge-Drinking

I want all communities in Hall Green to be free of underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. Groups of under-18s drinking in public around Hall Green are an all too familiar sight.

This type of drinking increases youth anti-social behaviour and crime, puts young people in vulnerable situations and I want to put a stop to it.

Underage drinkers should face up to the risks of their damaging behaviour and receive education about the harm alcohol can do.

Labour will stamp out persistent teen binge-drinking with a range of new measures. There will be a new offence for the persistent possession of alcohol by young people in public spaces. 

And to make sure that parents live up to their responsibilities, there will be greater use of Parenting Contracts for the parents of young people caught repeatedly drinking in public.

Labour's Action Plan sets out how the police can make more effective use of current powers to confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers, as well as new measures to tackle the problems associated with young people drinking in public.

The Plan also contains new proposals to deter young people from trying to buy alcohol and to encourage Proof of Age schemes.

And there will be tough action taken against premises that sell alcohol to people underage. 

If there is a problem in your area with underage drinking that needs sorting out please get in touch

Action On Knife Crime

I am serious about getting knives off our streets so I fully support the action Labour have taken this week.

From Thursday, anyone over the age of 16 caught in possession of a knife can expect to be prosecuted on the first offence.

Those who carry a knife on our streets need to know that they will be caught and should expect to end up in court and face tough consequences.

It's unacceptable to carry a knife. Young people need to understand that carrying knives doesn’t protect you.

It increases the danger for all of us, destroys young lives and ruins families. 

I will do all I can to make sure this message is heard loud and clear in Hall Green

David Cameron's Hug A Hoodie Approach Will Not Protect Families

The Tories offer salesmanship, not leadership.  The Tories talk tough on crime, but hard working families would not be protected by David Cameron's hug a hoodie approach.

While Labour takes the tough and necessary measures to combat crime and anti-social behaviour, David Cameron's hug-a-hoodie approach will not protect law-abiding families.  They have dismissed Labour's anti-crime measures, including knife scanners, as 'gimmicks'.

The Tories talk tough but vote soft. The Tories have continually opposed key measures to tackle crime.

They have voted:

• AGAINST tougher sentences for murder, sexual and violent offences
• AGAINST five year minimum sentences for carrying an illegal gun
• AGAINST allowing new trials for murder if new evidence comes to light;
• AGAINST tougher measures to tackle terrorism; and allowing police more powers to take DNA from suspects.

They opposed new powers for local authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour. Including fly-tipping, abandoned cars, fixed penalties for litter and they voted to water down ASBOs (voting to reduce the minimum time they should apply from two years to three months)

The measures we have introduced to tackle anti-social behaviour have the support of communities and are helping to crack down on unacceptable behaviour. The Tories have dismissed Labour's Respect agenda as a 'gimmick'.