Creating safer communities

I want everyone in West Berkshire to feel safe in their communities and, in Parliament, ensuring the safety of women and tackling violence of women has been at the heart of my work. I have:

  • Secured new laws on sexual violence in the Domestic Abuse Act;
  • Campaigned for tougher sentences for fatal domestic abuse;
  • Held regular roundtables with the Police, Council, transport operators and Newbury Town BID to ensure women feel safe in our community.

On top of this I have also:

  • Helped secure new custodial sentences for rural crime, and I have worked with the Police and landowners on hare coursing and other rural crimes;
  • Backed the Government's Online Safety Bill and called for tougher measures within it to ensure safety online.

News

Laura meets domestic abuse campaigner Frank Mullane

In Parliament, Laura met with Frank Mullane of the leading domestic abuse charity AAFDA, Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse. This follows her own campaigns on domestic abuse and domestic homicide.

Laura said that was a "privilege to meet Frank" and she added that,

Laura's question to the Home Secretary on the Casey Review

Following publication of Baroness Casey's review into the Metropolitan Police, Laura asked the Home Secretary about whether those "imbued with the structures and the culture" of the Met should be responsible for delivering the "fundamental change" needed within the force.

The Chancellor delivers his Budget for Growth

The Chancellor has delivered his Budget, setting out the Government's economic priorities and policies for the forthcoming year.

In the Budget the Chancellor announced significant additional cost of living support, including:

Laura hosts second women's safety roundtable

Following her work last year on women's safety, Laura hosted a second roundtable to discuss town safety, domestic abuse, gateway offending and child protection.

She met with: