If the hon. Gentleman is so keen on action, why does he propose to cut the Home Office budget by £160 million, getting rid of 3,500 police officers, which will mean far less action on the streets of Britain under a Tory Government than under this Labour Government?

If the hon. Gentleman is so keen on action, why does he propose to cut the Home Office budget by £160 million, getting rid of 3,500 police officers, which will mean far less action on the streets of Britain under a Tory Government than under this Labour Government?

I certainly agree that discipline is essential and that it is important at school, but I will be frank with the hon. Gentleman: many of these problems start at home. The primary responsibility lies with parents. About 90 per cent. of the public say in all our surveys that parents...

I certainly agree that discipline is essential and that it is important at school, but I will be frank with the hon. Gentleman: many of these problems start at home. The primary responsibility lies with parents. About 90 per cent. of the public say in all our surveys that parents...

I am pleased to make a contribution in what is an important debate, as evidenced by the number of hon. Members in the House on an occasion when a vote is not likely. That indicates interest from all parties in what are very significant and serious issues for our communities....

I am pleased to make a contribution in what is an important debate, as evidenced by the number of hon. Members in the House on an occasion when a vote is not likely. That indicates interest from all parties in what are very significant and serious issues for our communities....

My hon. Friend makes an important point and, again, one that I hope will be shared right across the House. When people feel disaffected and excluded from opportunities that other people take for granted—whether in education and housing or, indeed, in their safety and security—there is ripe and fertile territory...

My hon. Friend makes an important point and, again, one that I hope will be shared right across the House. When people feel disaffected and excluded from opportunities that other people take for granted—whether in education and housing or, indeed, in their safety and security—there is ripe and fertile territory...

For the sake of my clarity and, more importantly, for the information of the public, will the hon. Gentleman confirm to the House, here and now, whether or not his party supports antisocial behaviour orders?

For the sake of my clarity and, more importantly, for the information of the public, will the hon. Gentleman confirm to the House, here and now, whether or not his party supports antisocial behaviour orders?

I am delighted that the hon. Gentleman and his party have experienced a damascene conversion to tackling antisocial behaviour, but I am afraid that his actions are not always as strong as his words. If he believes that antisocial behaviour orders constitute effective powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, will he...

I am delighted that the hon. Gentleman and his party have experienced a damascene conversion to tackling antisocial behaviour, but I am afraid that his actions are not always as strong as his words. If he believes that antisocial behaviour orders constitute effective powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, will he...

indicated assent.

indicated assent.

The hon. Gentleman is making some important points about the pivotal role of housing in tackling antisocial behaviour. Does he agree that, as well as councils taking action, there is often a great deal of antisocial behaviour in the private rented sector and that the introduction of landlord licensing, which...

The hon. Gentleman is making some important points about the pivotal role of housing in tackling antisocial behaviour. Does he agree that, as well as councils taking action, there is often a great deal of antisocial behaviour in the private rented sector and that the introduction of landlord licensing, which...

I am delighted to be able to tell the hon. Lady that in 85 per cent. of cases, the behaviour changed sufficiently that those families were no longer facing the threat of eviction for antisocial behaviour because they were no longer a nuisance to their neighbours. Many of them may...

I am delighted to be able to tell the hon. Lady that in 85 per cent. of cases, the behaviour changed sufficiently that those families were no longer facing the threat of eviction for antisocial behaviour because they were no longer a nuisance to their neighbours. Many of them may...

I will press on, because other hon. Members want to contribute to the debate. I want to say a little about motorbikes and scrambler bikes. As a motorcyclist, I am obviously very keen to make sure that people use their motorbikes properly, but I am afraid that far too many...

I will press on, because other hon. Members want to contribute to the debate. I want to say a little about motorbikes and scrambler bikes. As a motorcyclist, I am obviously very keen to make sure that people use their motorbikes properly, but I am afraid that far too many...

When we meet police community support officers, all of us as constituency Members of Parliament have huge regard for them. They are out 90 per cent. of their time, patrolling. They have time to build relationships. They meet the head teachers and the shopkeepers, and they protect the public. Any...

When we meet police community support officers, all of us as constituency Members of Parliament have huge regard for them. They are out 90 per cent. of their time, patrolling. They have time to build relationships. They meet the head teachers and the shopkeepers, and they protect the public. Any...

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend about early intervention. I saw some research recently that analysed the reasons for antisocial behaviour and talked about children at the very early stages of their lives. It said that, many of those children, if they were not loved, had no idea about...

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend about early intervention. I saw some research recently that analysed the reasons for antisocial behaviour and talked about children at the very early stages of their lives. It said that, many of those children, if they were not loved, had no idea about...

The hon. Gentleman appears to be arguing that ASBOs are not effective because they are breached. Does he not accept that ASBOs are often applied to the most prolific offenders, and are therefore more likely to be breached in most circumstances? I defy the hon. Gentleman to tell my constituents...

The hon. Gentleman appears to be arguing that ASBOs are not effective because they are breached. Does he not accept that ASBOs are often applied to the most prolific offenders, and are therefore more likely to be breached in most circumstances? I defy the hon. Gentleman to tell my constituents...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what routine background checks are made on (a) serving police officers, (b) police recruits and (c) community support officers; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what routine background checks are made on (a) serving police officers, (b) police recruits and (c) community support officers; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many independent custody visitors in England and Wales have signed the Official Secrets Act 1989 as part of the (a) appointment and (b) re-appointment process;

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many independent custody visitors in England and Wales have signed the Official Secrets Act 1989 as part of the (a) appointment and (b) re-appointment process;

(2) what guidelines he has issued on whether independent custody visitors need to sign the Official Secrets Act 1989;

(2) what guidelines he has issued on whether independent custody visitors need to sign the Official Secrets Act 1989;

(3) how many independent custody visiting panels have been asked by their police authority to sign the Official Secrets Act 1989.

(3) how many independent custody visiting panels have been asked by their police authority to sign the Official Secrets Act 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a conviction for the (a) use of and (b) possession of cocaine while a teenager continues to disqualify a person from successfully applying to become a police officer in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a conviction for the (a) use of and (b) possession of cocaine while a teenager continues to disqualify a person from successfully applying to become a police officer in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was for a disclosure application to be processed by the Metropolitan Police in the last year for which figures are available; and how many disclosure applications are waiting to be processed by the Metropolitan Police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was for a disclosure application to be processed by the Metropolitan Police in the last year for which figures are available; and how many disclosure applications are waiting to be processed by the Metropolitan Police.