Briefings and responses

The LGA continues to work with the Home Office to tackle serious and serious organised crime. In particular, the harrowing exploitation of children and young people by county lines drugs gangs is a significant and increasing concern for councils, and they are working hard with Government and local partners to protect those at risk of abuse.

The Local Government Association (LGA) supports the overall aims of the Online Safety Bill (OSB), which makes provisions for Ofcom to regulate certain internet services.

This briefing outlines what the Act covers and how it will impact local government.

From Autumn 2021 there has been a concerning increase in reports of spiking, including a new trend of allegations of substances being administered by needles rather than through drinks. Councils take these allegations extremely seriously and have worked with the police and other partners to respond swiftly to these reports.

The Local Government Association (LGA) supports the overall aims of the Online Safety Bill (OSB), which makes provisions for Ofcom to regulate certain internet services. The regulation proposed in this Bill is aimed at ensuring platforms have systems and processes in place to deal with illegal and harmful content and their associated risk. 

Human trafficking and modern slavery are heinous crimes. Supporting councils to tackle modern slavery is a key priority area for the LGA.

The Local Government Association (LGA) supports the overall aims of the Online Safety Bill (OSB), which makes provisions for the regulation by Ofcom of certain internet services.

The Government’s Anti-social Behaviour Action Plan and consultation sets out its approach to stamping out anti-social behaviour. Councils look forward to seeing more details of how the action plan will work in practice, as well as how the plan will  be funded. The LGA will work closely with the Government given the plan’s commitments to fund more uniformed local authority wardens and to explore funding models with PCCs and councils.

We support the Government’s ambition to improve the service and support that victims receive, and hope that the Victims and Prisoners Bill and related non-legislative measures will help to improve victims’ confidence to report crimes and seek justice, as well as to rebuild their lives.

LGA's response to the Community safety partnerships review and anti- social behaviour powers consultation.