NEWS
accountability measures. However, as Tiff Lynch and her colleagues emphasised, legislative changes alone cannot achieve safer communities without sufficient investment in policing infrastructure, training, and officer retention. The Bill addresses several key areas, including:
• Public Order and Anti-Social Behaviour: Introduction of Respect
• Knife Crime: New offences for possessing knives with
Orders, extended dispersal orders, and increased fines for breaches of community protection notices.
• Retail Crime: A new offence for assaulting retail workers.
intent and expanded police powers to seize weapons.
• Police Powers and Standards: Enhanced authority to enter premises
on intimate image abuse.
and reforms to police accountability processes.
These measures are intended to provide law enforcement with greater tools to combat crime. As Tiff pointed out, their effectiveness depends on proper implementation and resource allocation. Tiff also emphasised the need for Government to stand by police officers carrying out their jobs. She stated:
“In relation to the public having that knowledge of the powers, it’s also important for our police officers to have the confidence the Government is behind them when they are actually enforcing these laws, so they know they are supported in the work they are doing.” Much of the questioning during the
committee hearing focused on how these new laws would affect everyday policing. Tiff was clear in her stance, clarity in
“It’s also important for our police officers to have the confidence the Government is behind them when they are actually enforcing these laws.”
• Sexual Offences: Strengthened laws on child exploitation and new provisions
legislation and adequate officer training are non-negotiable. Respect Orders, aimed at curbing
anti-social behaviour among individuals over 18, allow police to impose bans on persistent offenders from specific areas or public spaces. While this could be an effective deterrent, Tiff cautioned such orders might strain already overstretched resources. Without adequate enforcement mechanisms, including appropriate custodial sentences, there is a risk these measures could amount to little more than a symbolic gesture. The Bill proposes a new offence for
carrying a knife with intent to cause harm, reinforcing existing laws on
offensive weapons. Tiff acknowledged the importance of stringent knife crime measures but underscored the need for proactive interventions, such as education and community engagement, to prevent young people from carrying weapons in the first place. The provision allowing police to seize knives from private properties presents concerns about ensuring fair and proportionate enforcement. Officers will require clear guidance to avoid misuse of this power and maintain public trust. A key feature of the Bill is the creation of a specific offence for assaulting retail workers. While this sends a strong message that
such behaviour will not be tolerated, Tiff highlighted a crucial challenge - enforcement. A similar law was introduced to protect emergency service workers, yet Crown Prosecutors have struggled to process these cases due to overburdened courts. The risk is history could repeat itself, leaving retail workers without the protection they were promised. One of the most contentious aspects of the Bill involves police standards and accountability. Tiff supported the proposed change to the Independent Office for Police Conduct referral threshold, which aims to speed up internal investigations. Delays in misconduct
09 | POLICE | APRIL | 2025
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