Priti Patel’s decision to lift the restrictions on police stop-and-search powers will “save lives”, a Home Office minister has told GB News.
The Home Secretary wrote to police forces on Monday to announce the easing of conditions on the use of the tactics under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
The decision is part of the Government’s strategy to tackle violent crime.
And speaking on GB News’ Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel, minister for safeguarding Rachel Maclean has backed the plans.
Rachel Maclean on Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel
GB News
The Home Secretary wrote to police forces to confirm lifting of restrictions
Aaron Chown
Ms Maclean told Paul Hawkins and Isabel Webster: “What we want to see is increased confidence from the police to bring in the section 60 powers ultimately to save lives and keep our streets safer.
“What we’ve set out in the beating crime plan is we’re determined to crack down on the scourge of knife crime.
“I, as a Home Office minister, I often have to speak to bereaved families who have lost their child.
“I can’t imagine how awful that can be, that fear that your child may walk out the door and not come back because they’re the victim of knife crime.
“So this is really helpful tool, it does allow the police to put the section 60 in place where they believe there will be a risk of serious violence.
“And we believe it will ultimately keep people safe and save lives.”
Speaking about the new powers, Ms Patel said: “The devastating impact of knife crime on families who have lost their loved one is unbearable.
"No one should have to endure the pain and suffering of the victims of these appalling crimes and we have a responsibility to them to do everything in our power to prevent future tragedies."
She said the use of stop and search has increased by around 85 percent since 2019 and has contributed to some 50,000 weapons being taken off the streets.
The Home Secretary added: “I stand wholeheartedly behind the police so that they can build on their work to drive down knife crime by making it easier for officers to use these powers to seize more weapons, arrest more suspects and save more lives."
