Silent Crime: Home secretary Yvette Cooper pledges to crack down on nuisance and shoplifting

Speaking during the Labour Party conference yesterday, the first conference for 15 years at which the party has been in power, Ms Cooper said that street crime was in her sights the party targeted “safer streets”.

Her pledge mirrors the demands made by NationalWorld’s new Silent Crime campaign, which is highlighting the often unreported or under-investigated offences that can make life a misery for so many - including, but not restricted to, nuisance, theft, shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and assaults.

The Home Secretary focused on moves to introduce new powers to respond to antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and off-road bikes, with more neighbourhood police expected in communities.

The government plans legislation which will see “respect orders”, which are designed to ban persistent antisocial offenders from town centres, including for issues linked to public drinking and drug use. And it has promised an additional 13,000 police officers and PCSOs along with guaranteed local patrols.

And after sustained campaigning from shop workers union Usdaw and the Co-op, there will be a new specific offence of assaulting a shopworker.

Ms Cooper said: “We know that security is the bedrock on which communities can come together, and on which the opportunities Labour has always fought for are built. You don’t get social justice if you don’t have justice.

“Respect is the very foundation of our democracy. Those Labour values are at the heart of all we do. And they are at the heart of our mission for safer streets too. Starting in towns and cities across the country where rising street crime has driven people from our high streets, corroding the fabric of our communities.

“This Labour Government will bring in new powers on antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and off-road bikes and put neighbourhood police back on the beat. And yes, after years of Co-op and Usdaw campaigning, this Labour Government will introduce a new law on assaults on shopworkers, because everyone has the right to work in freedom from fear.”

She was speaking on the day that a ban on owning zombie-style knives and machetes comes into force. It follows a four-week amnesty scheme where owners were encouraged to hand the weapons in to police, local authorities or knife crime charities. The government plans to also ban ninja swords in the future.