Silent Crime: No-one in this country should ever suffer in silence, if you need the police call them - Dame Diana Johnson

Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home, on their streets and in their community. Without that people, families and businesses cannot flourish. Trust and confidence in the police - that they will maintain law and order and will respond if you call - is vital to our model of policing by consent.

In the almost 20 years that I have served as an MP, the problems of crime and anti-social behaviour have been a constant and ever-present concern to my constituents. It remains so in my new Hull North and Cottingham Constituency, especially now with the issue of shoplifting and violence against shop workers.

As Policing Minister, in a government committed to delivering change, I will be ensuring we go further than before to rebuild confidence in policing and take back control of our streets.

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You saw this summer, when we witnessed thuggery, violence and looting around the country, including in my own city of Hull, that the government acted quickly to ensure the police had the resources they needed.

Policing Minister Diana Johnson at the Cabinet Office in Westminster, central London. PIC: Lucy North/PA WirePolicing Minister Diana Johnson at the Cabinet Office in Westminster, central London. PIC: Lucy North/PA Wire
Policing Minister Diana Johnson at the Cabinet Office in Westminster, central London. PIC: Lucy North/PA Wire

As always, the police were our first line of defence, keeping the peace and protecting the public from harm. This included fending off disgraceful violent attacks on themselves, on their fellow officers and on others in the emergency services.

In the days and weeks that followed, the government worked with the police and the criminal justice system to make sure those responsible were found, identified, apprehended and punished – without fear or favour.

Police forces worked tirelessly, courts remained open, and this government made sure prosecutors had everything they needed to make sure justice was served. Just two weeks ago, a rioter from Rotherham received the longest sentence yet - nine years behind bars.

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The Prime Minister, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, sent a clear message.

In our free democracy, governed by the rule of law, we discuss issues, make decisions through the ballot box and protest peacefully – rights that were hard-won.

But crime, thuggery and violent disorder have no legitimate role and cannot be excused. Lawlessness cannot and will not be tolerated.

Crime comes in many forms, shapes and sizes. It affects people in all sorts of ways and in all walks of life.

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It is the responsibility of the police to respond to all criminal activity, wherever and whenever it occurs. They are there to protect the public, to keep the peace and apprehend those responsible for the crimes they have committed.

That is what the public expects and what we, as a government, expect too. But all too often we hear that far too many people feel they must suffer in silence, feeling there is little point in reporting a crime because they think nothing will come of it. This has been especially true of the increasing failure over the past decade to address violence against women and girls. This must change.

There are, of course, already thousands of incredible police officers and staff doing an admirable job. But we have to face the reality that the public’s trust in our forces needs rebuilding.

The Prime Minister has set out a mission-driven government with a focus on the long term.

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That’s why through our Safer Streets Mission we will deliver thousands more neighbourhood police officers, special constables and community support officers. Police forces will have more resources to patrol and protect our streets and all the powers they need.

Our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that people always have someone to turn to for help when needed, ensuring communities have a named officer.

While police control operational matters, the Home Secretary and I, as Policing Minister, have been clear that we will take a more active leadership role on policing and crime, on ensuring the delivery of the effective policing that the British public deserves.

We are committed to making our streets safe again, taking them back from the criminals and thugs who cause so much misery to our communities. We know it’s going to take more than money and resources to restore public confidence in our policing – and certainly more than good intentions.

It's going to take trust. That means listening.

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I hear the stories from my constituents and now as Policing Minister from many people up and down the country of how crimes are committed, but aren’t reported. Much of the anti-social behaviour blighting communities just goes unreported.

We will not accept this. Change must come.

The Silent Crime campaign is an important step along the road of making our streets safe again. I will follow it with interest, reading about your experiences, listening to your stories and, above all else, making sure you are heard.

No-one in this country should ever suffer in silence. Please speak up. If you need the police, call the police. They’re here to help and protect you. In government we are listening too.

As Policing and Crime Minister I am determined to do everything in my power, and this government's power, to restore your trust in policing and put neighbourhood policing back at the heart of communities.

It is a challenging mission, but one that this government will not shirk.

Dame Diana Johnson is Policing and Crime Minister and MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham.

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