Chris Loder MP speaks on recent attacks and Extinction Rebellion disruptive protests

7th September 2020 Following a statement from the Minister of State on the Birmingham attacks and Extinction Rebellion protests. Chris Loder MP: It is less than three months since I stood in this Chamber the last time after similar tragic events in Reading, and I am greatly concerned that these attacks continue and would like the Minister, please, to outline what decisive action the Government are taking to stop these horrific attacks continuing. On Extinction Rebellion, I am afraid its disruptive, costly and often illegal protests risk severely undermining the important debate on climate change and our environment; blocking roads into hospitals and the like is just not the way to do it. Response from Kit Malthouse, The Minister of State, Home Department: My hon. Friend is right to be concerned about violent crime, and we all are; that is why the Prime Minister has set up the criminal justice taskforce, which will be meeting this week, and which will discuss on a monthly basis what our response to all manner of crimes, but in particular violent crime, should be. As he knows, we are recruiting 20,000 extra police officers over the next three years. We are about 4,500 into that recruitment campaign. Adding that to previous commitments, we are approximately 9,500 police officers up on 2018, which will help. We are putting money into violence reduction units and indeed into surge funding for police forces that are affected across the country. Later this month, I will be starting a series of meetings with large forces to talk to them about their murder prevention strategies, to make sure that everybody has one in place.