Police minister's bag stolen at police conference

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson had her belongings stolen from the edifice wherever she gave code astatine a league for elder constabulary officers connected Tuesday.

Thieves struck portion Dame Diana blamed the Conservatives for an “epidemic of antisocial behaviour, theft and shoplifting” astatine the yearly Police Superintendents' Association conference.

A 56-year-old antheral from Coventry has been arrested connected suspicion of burglary and released connected bail successful transportation to the incident, Warwickshire Police said.

The Home Office confirmed that Johnson had her belongings stolen astatine the league and said that nary information risks had been identified.

Dame Diana utilized her code to onslaught the Conservative Party's bequest and outline the government’s plans to boost neighbourhood policing.

Labour's ngo "is to reconstruct respect for the regularisation of instrumentality connected British streets, including restoring respect for the police, which has sadly been eroded implicit galore years," she said.

"Too galore municipality centres and precocious streets crossed the state person been gripped by an epidemic of anti-social behaviour, theft and shoplifting, which is corroding our communities and cannot beryllium allowed to continue," she added.

Dame Diana announced the authorities has "agreed archetypal backing to enactment the College of Policing successful rolling retired a specializer caller grooming programme for neighbourhood officers".

President of the Police Superintendents' Association (PSA) Nick Smart told the league constabulary person been near astatine the centre of a tempest not of their making owed to the aboriginal merchandise of hundreds of prisoners.

He complained that inmates are being acceptable escaped without due merchandise plans and that the constabulary would beryllium near to woody with the consequences.

Warwickshire Police confirmed it was investigating reports of a burglary astatine the Kenilworth edifice that hosted the PSA conference.

A constabulary spokesperson said: "The theft occurred immoderate clip betwixt 11.00 BST-13.15 connected Tuesday.

"Enquiries are ongoing. A 56-year-old antheral from Coventry has been arrested connected suspicion of burglary and has since been released connected bail portion enquiries continue.”