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Draft legislative programme – Home Office Bills

14 May 2008

The Prime Minister today outlined details of the three Home Office Bills that will be introduced in the next parliamentary session.

The Bills announced in the draft legislative programme are:

 

• Policing and Crime Reduction Bill - which will build on improvements to policing and crime reduction; reclaim public spaces through police reform and local accountability; include measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and alcohol; and include new proposals for directly elected representatives to give local people more control over policing priorities and responsiveness.
• The Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill - which will underpin the biggest shake-up of Britain’s border security and immigration system for over 35 years.  It will set the rules for who is allowed to stay in the country, further strengthen border protection and cut red tape making enforcement of immigration law more effective.
• The Communications Data Bill - which will ensure that public authorities can continue to obtain and have access to communications data essential for counter-terrorism and investigation of crime. 
  

Feeling safe and secure is of fundamental importance to individuals, families and communities and the Government is committed to delivering improved policing that is better suited to the needs of the public.

 

Measures in the Policing and Crime Reduction Bill will give the public greater confidence in the police by enhancing the way performance is managed, tackling bureaucracy and improving transparency, with new measures that will give local people more influence on police priorities while better holding them to account.

 

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

 

“We have seen with the success of Neighbourhood Policing that listening to the public and to what local people want and then delivering on those priorities is the right way to move forward.

 

“I am committed to making sure that policing at all levels is citizen focused and the Policing and Crime Reduction Bill builds on work already being done to combat crime and reduce binge and underage drinking.“

Details of the three bills will be announced in due course.

 

Notes to Editors:

1. An outline of the draft legislative programme can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/draftprogramme.  A more detailed analysis of it, including the opportunity to comment on the proposals, can be made online at: www.CommonsLeader.gov.uk/YourVoice
2. The website contains an easy to read form of this green paper and access to a You Tube site. It also contains details of regional events being held by Regional Ministers. During the consultation period, this will feature videos of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Commons and other Ministers talking about the DLP.
   
3. The Leader of the House of Commons and other Cabinet Ministers will take part in interactive online question and answer sessions (web chats). Details of these will also be published on the website.
4.  A summary leaflet setting out the themes and bills of the draft legislative programme, which also gives the public details of how to find out more and the methods of submitting comments, is available on the website, or in paper copy on request. Copies will also be available in public libraries.

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