Question
In recent years shoplifting has become an increasing issue for many of the high streets in my constituency, and our shop workers are having to deal with increasingly frightening and dangerous situations. In the light of that, we look forward to seeing meaningful progress towards the Government’s ambitious targets for the expansion of neighbourhood policing. What practical steps are the Government taking to boost local police numbers and neighbourhood policing in the Bristol area?
Answer
As I have said, neighbourhood police numbers in Avon and Somerset have risen by 71 since 2025. We are also introducing a raft of measures to deal with shop theft, such as the removal of the £200 threshold, and investment in new technology to help the police and retailers to work together so that crime can be reported and people can then be charged. There has been huge progress in many parts of the country where retailers and police are working together. During the two years in the run-up to the general election, shop theft went up by 60%, but it is now on the turn, falling by 2% this year. We are making progress with those extra police, but there is still a great deal more to do.29% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The reply only partly answers the question about boosting local police numbers and neighbourhood policing in Bristol. It gives a concrete figure of 71 additional neighbourhood officers across Avon and Somerset since 2025, and says progress is being made, but it does not name specific steps being taken in Bristol. Much of the reply covers shop theft, which is a different policy area. The asker would likely need to ask again for the local measures and their timing.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What practical steps is the Government taking to boost local police numbers and neighbourhood policing in the Bristol area? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | Statement 1 gives a concrete local figure (71 more neighbourhood police in Avon and Somerset since 2025), and statement 7 says progress is being made, but neither names a practical step taken to boost local numbers or neighbourhood policing in Bristol. The shop theft statements (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) concern a different policy area and do not answer the item. |