Policing and Crime

Make provision about the police; to make provision about prostitution, sex offenders, sex establishments and certain other premises; to make provision for reducing and dealing with the abuse of alcohol; to make provision about the proceeds of crime; to make provision about extradition; to amend the Aviation Security Act 1982; to make provision about criminal records and to amend the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006; to confer, extend or facilitate search, forfeiture and other powers relating to the United Kingdom’s borders or elsewhere; to make further provision for combatting crime and disorder; to repeal redundant provisions; and for connected purposes.

This Bill draws together a number of disparate policy issues on policing and crime.Key areas

• Introduces new provisions to improve police accountability and effectiveness (although the Government’s plans for directly elected police authorities, which provoked some controversy, have not been included in the Bill)
• Creates a new offence of paying for sex with someone who is controlled for gain and introduces new powers to close brothels
• Modifies the law on soliciting
• Tightens up the regulation of lap-dancing clubs by reclassifying them as ‘sex establishments’ rather than ‘entertainment’ venues
• Amends police powers to deal with young people drinking in public
• Introduces a new mandatory code of practice for alcohol sales
• Amends the criminal asset recovery scheme established under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
• Changes the arrangements for airport security and policing.