Changing the law to tackle high street criminals

I have talked a lot about the need to tackle criminal business operating in plain sight on some of our high streets. It needs the police to act, alongside local councils, trading standards and others. But there's no point complaining about these problems without having a plan to tackle it!

I am grateful to Baroness Buscombe and the Shadow Home Office team for supporting my proposed amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. This change will give the police (and councils) powers to move more quickly to shut down criminal businesses. Not just going after individuals - important though that is - but making sure that businesses are closed, and quickly!

I am delighted that the amendment was agreed in the House of Lords, there's now work to do to ensure that MPs support this change when the Bill returns to the House of Commons for the final stages of debate.

There are a range of other changes that I've been discussing, including the role commercial landlords can play in cleaning up our high streets. A high trust society needs swift action against those who seek to by-pass the law, this would be one step towards making that happen.