Question
Businesses, constituents and pets in Tunbridge Wells suffer from destructive and often cruel catapult attacks. It is a problem that many of us across this House have seen in our inboxes. Kent police and Tunbridge Wells borough council are working together to manage the problem, including looking at public space protection orders. Can I ask the Secretary of State whether she has considered restrictions or a ban at a national level in order to strengthen the hand of local police forces and local authorities such as mine in Tunbridge Wells?
Answer
The hon. Member cannot ask the Secretary of State, but he can ask the Minister for Policing. He raises a legitimate problem. We recently had a roundtable on catapults and the harm that they are doing, and we are looking at what more we need to do. Respect orders will work in this space as well, and it is worth him talking to the police on that front, because we want to ensure that we are doing everything we can. We have seen some particularly nasty catapult attacks in particular areas of the country, which we want to see an end to. Respect orders might be an answer.20% vibes
Verdict: RED (22/100)
The reply refers the question to the Minister for Policing and says the government is looking at what more it can do, including holding a roundtable. It does not say whether national restrictions or a ban on catapults were considered, and it points instead to respect orders, a local tool, without explaining why a national ban is not being pursued. The question is therefore only partly answered and in a hedged way, so the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for a clear position.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Has the Secretary of State considered introducing national restrictions or a ban on catapults to strengthen the hand of local police forces and local authorities, such as in Tunbridge Wells? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply refers the question to the Minister for Policing and says the government is 'looking at what more we need to do' and held a roundtable, but it never says whether national restrictions or a ban on catapults were considered. The concrete mechanism it names, respect orders, is a local tool, so the reply substitutes it for the national option asked about without explaining why a ban is not being pursued. |