In November 2013, Equality and Human Rights Commission research found that black people were six times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people, but in some areas this was as high as 29 times more likely.

Liberal Democrat Home Office Minister, Norman Baker, is bringing forward the plans in the party’s ‘pre-manifesto’ which will be published in September.

We will introduce rules making the wearing of body cameras by officers mandatory for:

• Section 60 stop and search areas
• Officers armed with firearms
• Members of Territorial Support Groups

The policy also includes plans to:

• Tighten up the rules on stop and search
• Eradicate the target-driven incentives which can cause the powers to be overused by police
• Improve safeguards through tighter guidance
• Ensure that authorisation for area-based Stop and Search is subject to judicial approval

Norman says: “The Liberal Democrats want to transform community relations and restore the public’s trust in the police. Far too many innocent people are subjected to stop and search, which is often based on crude stereotyping of minorities. “Stop and search has led to tension, and it’s something that cannot be ignored. Liberal Democrats in Government have been taking the lead, and believe more must be done in the next parliament.”

New legislation came into force on Monday designed to help people in England and Wales. It also applies to UK nationals overseas who are at risk of becoming the victim of a forced marriage.

Forced marriage can involve physical, psychological, emotional, financial and sexual abuse including being held unlawfully captive, assaulted and raped.

In 2013, the government’s Forced Marriage Unit gave advice or support related to a possible forced marriage to more than 1300 people.

The maximum penalty for the new offence of forced marriage is seven years imprisonment.

Law enforcement agencies will also be able to pursue perpetrators in other countries where a UK national is involved under new powers defined in legislation.

It will still be possible for victims to seek enforcement for breach of a forced marriage protection order by way of the civil court’s contempt powers as an alternative to reporting the breach to the police.

Norman says: “Marriage should be about two people deciding they want to live together because they love each other. To force someone in to marriage to a person they don’t want to be with against their will is a corruption of marriage. Moreover it is in effect a life sentence for the person forced to marry, who at worst will then become a domestic servant by day and a sex slave by night. Forced marriage has no place in a civilised society and no cultural explanations can justify its use. I am therefore delighted to launch this new law on behalf of the coalition government”.

• Further information please see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/forced-marriage-now-a-crime
• Part of the government policy to end violence against women and girls in the UK. For further information see https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-in-the-uk

Football United Against Domestic Violence is a new campaign by Women’s Aid, launched on 10 June, to work with national footballing bodies, sports media, football clubs, the police, players and fans to send a clear message that domestic violence is always unacceptable.

Norman attend the launch event along with representatives of the Premier League, The FA and BT Sport to show their support and sign the pledge:

I stand proudly with Football United Against Domestic Violence to speak out:

• against all forms of domestic violence
• against sexist attitudes towards women and girls
• for healthy relationships for young people
• for positive role models in the footballing community

Norman says: “This is an important issue that needs the support of the whole community and I am pleased to be able to pledge my support to this campaign.

“To be able to have the footballing community join with this campaign makes a positive difference now to raise awareness and reduce the amount of domestic violence in the future and I would encourage local clubs to sign up to show their support and speak out against domestic violence.”

Local Lib Dem MP and Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker is launching a new poster campaign today to flag advice and support to protect girls and young women, announced by the Home Office.

Mothers who suspect a girl in their community is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are urged to call NSPCC’s dedicated helpline for advice and support. Over 200,000 girls under the age of 15 could be at high risk of FGM in England and Wales each year with nearly 66,000 women having experienced FGM.

The campaign is specifically aimed at mothers in Somali, Kenyan and Nigerian communities, which have been identified as having a higher than average prevalence of FGM. Posters will be placed on panels in public toilets across London and seven cities in England and Wales.

The posters will direct mothers and carers to telephone the free, 24-hour NSPCC FGM helpline (0800 028 3550) if they are suspicious a girl they know is at risk of having the procedure. The helpline is available to anyone and people can report this suspicions of FGM anonymously. They can also ask for advice and support if their own child is at risk of FGM. The posters will be sent to schools, GP surgeries, police stations and hospitals around the country so they can be displayed in staff areas.

Norman says: “We need a complete cultural change on FGM and we are working to support communities to abandon the practice themselves.

“Mothers have the power to stop this happening to their daughters and the next generation. Through our new campaign we want them – as well as anyone else who is concerned – to contact the NSPCC FGM helpline in they believe their daughter or a girl they know is at risk

“Political or cultural sensitivities must not get in the way of preventing and uncovering this terrible form of abuse. The law in this country applies to absolutely everyone.

The campaign will run until August in order to reach communities during the school holidays when most girls are at risk.”

John Cameron, NSPCC Head of Child Protection Operations says: “FGM is a hidden crime and we need to bring it out into the open if we are to end it.

“Encouragingly, we have been contacted by over 200 people since we launched our FGM helpline last year – but we believe this is just the tip of the iceberg and that thousands of children may be vulnerable to abuse.”

Last week Norman gave a talk on the subject of FGM to the local branch of Soroptimist International at Beechwood Hall, Cooksbridge.

For further information on this campaign please see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-campaign-calls-on-mothers-and-carers-to-end-female-genital-mutilation

A YouTube video is also available on this campaign http://youtu.be/E0Tm9hyKQdU

Seven universities have signed up to a 12 month pilot scheme to encourage responsible drinking among students.

A radical new project designed to tackle the culture of binge drinking at universities across England and Wales has been launched by the government and National Union of Students.

Seven universities have signed up to a 12 month pilot scheme to encourage responsible drinking among students including the University of Brighton.

Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker said: “Binge drinking at universities is nothing new, but that doesn’t mean it is a good idea.

“Some students find themselves encouraged to participate in alcohol fuelled activities which can damage health and in some cases spill over into disorder and anti-social behaviour.

“The NUS Alcohol Impact project, backed by the Home Office, will help participating universities to encourage responsible drinking leading to safer and more productive places to study and live.

“Accreditation should become a badge of honour for universities, and another factor which helps promote their world class teaching and research to prospective domestic and international students.”

For more on this please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/alcohol-government-and-national-union-of-students-work-to-reduce-binge-drinking-at-universities

Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker visited St Gabriel’s College, Camberwell, which is hosting an exhibition on prejudice created by the Anne Frank Trust.

The visit marked the launch of a report into the government’s progress in tackling hate crime.

The award follows the recent announcement from the Lib Dem Spring Conference last week that the party will work to empower local communities to save pubs from closing against their wishes by giving them the right to buy local pubs that are up for sale at a fair market price. The policy will give pubs more protection in planning law.

Furthermore, Norman and the Lib Dems fought a hard campaign against the Beer Duty Escalator, a system that had proved damaging to brewers across the country and led to increases in beer prices for pub goers. Whilst these price increases were able to be absorbed by the supermarkets, pubs were unable to do this which led to further increases in the difference between a can in the supermarket and a pint in the pub. The Lib Dems were successful in getting the Beer Duty Escalator scrapped in 2013.

In May last year Norman invited Nick Clegg to the constituency to tour the Harveys brewery and to promote the local brewing traditions of Lewes. 

Norman says:

“I am very honoured to receive this award. There is a long tradition of brewing locally and the local area is famous for its high quality local beer, including Harveys and Longman Brewery, and the large number of well regarded pubs locally.

“My work in the Home Office has often shown me the worst effects alcohol can have on society. However, it is community minded breweries and friendly local pubs, like we have in this area that really show off the positive side of the industry.

“Beer is a key foundation of a lot of very important local industries, I am pleased that my work in government, as well as that of the Lib Dems as a whole, is helping to secure this industry for the future.”

The award is the latest in a series of awards since Norman became an MP, including Channel 4’s Opposition Politician of the Year and The Spectator’s Inquisitor of the Year as well as last year’s Outstanding Contribution to Transport, presented to him on his leaving the Department for Transport at the National Transport Awards.

The Asian Voice newspaper was founded 40 years ago and, over the years, has been at the forefront of reporting on stories and issues that directly relate to the UK’s ethnic minority communities.

The award was won last year by Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Norman Baker MP says:

“I am very honoured to be given this award and it is very gratifying to receive such recognition for my work in the Home Office, despite having only been there for less than six months. I hope that the work I am doing, and continue to do, will make a real difference to people’s lives, especially to the most vulnerable in society and those who have suffered as the victims of crime.”

Norman’s efforts follow years of work in this area and he promoted the cause in the past in his role as Lib Dem spokesperson on animal welfare.

The UK’s National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has been leading the way in this area, and has already invested over £35 million to support this work. As a result, trials into cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, as well as toxicity testing, have all seen reductions in animal use, and a number of procedures have seen testing by other methods not using animals.

The Technology Strategy Board is also leading work to invest up to £4 million in early stage feasibility studies to help accelerate the development of the uptake of new non-animal technologies. This will give businesses the opportunity to work with the UK’s research base to develop new technologies that could better predict the effect of new drugs in humans and the environment.

Norman says: 

“I am committed to reducing the use of animals in research. The scientific case for developing new techniques that do not involve animals is as strong as the moral one.

“I look forward to the day when animal experiments are a thing of the past and I am working hard to ensure this issue is moving forward through my role at the Home Office.

“Through our delivery plan, we are showing how alternative methods can provide fast, high-quality research that also boosts economic growth.

“Our commitment will pave the way for future practice, both at home and abroad, and will cement the UK’s place as an international leader in this field, and be good for both our scientific community and the wider UK economy.”

The full delivery plan can be found at http://bit.ly/1lGgxXh