The Prime Minister’s statement on the attack in Woolwich may be found here. He opened his statement: What happened yesterday in Woolwich has sickened us all. On our televisions last night – and in our newspapers this morning – we have all seen images that are deeply shocking. The people who did this were trying to divide us. They should know: something like this will only bring us together and make us stronger. Today our thoughts are with the victim [...]
As the Bucks Free Press has reported, seven Pakistani-British men have been charged with a catalogue of the most serious sexual offences. They must now face a fair trial so that justice is done. Everyone remains innocent until proven guilty and nothing must be allowed to prejudice just convictions. Let us not forget that, somewhere, protected by a court order, there is a real victim going through recovery. There will be other victims, whether or not related to this case, and [...]
Tags: Justice, Op Ribbon, Policing, Wycombe
Following the charges brought in Operation Ribbon, I welcome the following press release from Wycombe Muslim Communication Forum: The Wycombe Muslim Communication Forum (WMCF) unequivocally condemns the alleged sexual offences that have been carried out in High Wycombe currently being reported in the media. These offences are intolerable and deplorable. Protecting our entire community in High Wycombe is of paramount importance and any appropriate measures taken to arrest charge and prosecute perpetrators of such offences and to safeguard and protect vulnerable [...]
Tags: Justice, Op Ribbon, Policing, Wycombe
This is the latest update I have received in relation to Operation Ribbon from Area Commander, Supt Gilbert Houalla: It is unfortunate that this particular case has happened in Wycombe but this type of crime happens nationally and affects all sections of the community. Following the arrest of seven men with offences in relation to child exploitation and now it is important for us to continue to offer support to the whole community, including any victims and their families while [...]
Tags: Justice, Op Ribbon, Policing, Wycombe
This morning, police arrested 8 men in High Wycombe for alleged sexual exploitation of a young girl over a number of years. She is still under 18. A detailed statement has been released by Thames Valley Police. Further information is available on the Thames Valley Police Facebook page. The alleged offences are utterly vile and all decent people will join in condemning them. I wish Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service every success in securing just convictions of the guilty and long [...]
Tags: Justice, Op Ribbon, Policing, Wycombe
On the cover of City A.M. this morning, Boris Johnson argues that Starbucks must do more for the UK. Apparently, the Mayor said of Starbucks, “It needs to reflect very fast and very seriously on its position…Either it makes a change in its tax arrangements or does a lot more to visibly serve society.” Now, I was critical of Starbucks in the press myself, but the Mayor is mixing up two issues: paying tax and serving society. As I said [...]
Tags: 2020Tax, Boris Johnson, Collectivism, David Cameron, Justice, Liberty, Magna Carta, Planning, Reform, Starbucks, Tax
One of my colleagues passed on this quote regarding tax avoidance from about 80 years ago: Lord Clyde, President of the Court of Session, ruled: “No man in the country is under the smallest obligation, moral or other, so to arrange his legal relations to his business or property as to enable the Inland Revenue to put the largest possible shovel in his stores. “The Inland Revenue is not slow, and quite rightly, to take every advantage which is open [...]
Tags: HMRC, Justice, Rule of Law, Tax
A group of young music artists have released a track aimed at dissuading young people in Wycombe from joining gangs. DJ LoMotes and record producer Phoenix Keyz have collaborated with Styler, Sicx, Dimples and Treasure. Already with over 14,000 views on Youtube, ‘An Eye for an Eye’ is becoming an internet hit. Filmed in Wycombe town centre and around local gang hot-spots, the track dispels the myths of glamour and respect surrounding gang-culture through frank and open lyrics targeted at [...]
Tags: big society, Crime, Justice, Knife Crime, The Ben Kinsella Trust, Wycombe
The Prime Minister has said he wants responsibility in banking, right to the top. The National Association of Pension Funds wants bonus clawbacks from the people who made the related trades. There’s endless talk of the irresponsible culture in banking. All that is addressed by my last bill. Nick Robinson just mentioned politicians trying to catch up with people’s anger. I guess he has not spotted my proposed measures to make directors and staff of financial institutions liable for the consequences [...]
Tags: Banking, Financial Institutions (Reform) Bill, Justice, Liberty, Licence, Responsibility
After the riots last year, I wrote to the Home Secretary asking what would be a reasonable use of force by a property owner in defence of their own or their neighbours’ property and what constitutes reasonable force by the police in the prevention of crime, both in the circumstances of a riot? I said “I hope in Parliament we established that the state’s duty is to protect the law-abiding and their property first and foremost, and that the police [...]
Tags: Defence, Justice, Law and Order, Self defence
Steve Baker is MP for Wycombe. He was previously an RAF officer then a business software consultant. Find out more...
Steve holds regular surgeries in High Wycombe. If you would like an appointment, please call 01494 448408.
