In a surprising turn of events, Dame Diana Johnson, the UK’s Police and Crime Minister, had her purse stolen during a conference for senior police officers. The theft happened at a four-star hotel near Kenilworth in the Midlands, right after Johnson had delivered a speech on rising antisocial behaviour, theft, and shoplifting at the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) conference.
Ironically, the incident occurred just after she raised concerns about the growing crime problem, inherited by the Labour government from their Conservative predecessors.
Warwickshire Police responded quickly to the theft and arrested a 56-year-old man on suspicion of burglary. The man has since been released on bail, and investigations continue.
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Despite the theft, the UK Home Office assured the public that there were no security risks. Johnson, in a social media post, acknowledged the conference and praised officers for their efforts during the recent summer riots, but did not mention the stolen purse.
The incident has drawn attention to the Labour government’s handling of crime, especially in light of recent reports that theft cases remain high, with an estimated 2.7 million incidents reported in the year ending September 2023.
This comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government faces pressure to deliver on its promises to hire more police officers, with the aim of tackling the ongoing crime wave.
The theft occurred on the same day the UK government began releasing some prisoners early to reduce overcrowding in prisons, which worsened after the August riots. The government’s efforts to address the crime issue are under scrutiny as they work to meet public expectations ahead of the next general election.
