Briefings and responses

The Local Government Association (LGA) supports the introduction of a clear and comprehensive legal framework that applies to the use of biometric technologies by law enforcement organisations. From a local government perspective, clarity and consistency in the legal basis for the use of these technologies is essential to maintaining public confidence, ensuring proportionality and supporting effective partnership working at a local level.

On 26 January 2026, the Government published a Policing White Paper setting out proposals for the most significant reforms to policing in England and Wales for a generation. The White Paper seeks to address challenges in police performance, public confidence and the ability of policing to respond to serious and complex crime - whilst also restoring neighbourhood policing.

Knife crime cannot be successfully tackled by dealing with supply of knives alone. Councils have shown that with adequate resources and strong relationships with partners, they can positively reduce knife crime through upstream intervention.

The Sentencing Bill enacts several of the recommendations of the Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) that require legislation. The Bill makes significant changes to the sentencing framework, the way in which offenders are managed and serve sentences in the community, and also aims to create a justice system that better serves victims.

The Sentencing Bill proposes significant reforms to custodial and community sentencing, including a presumption against short custodial sentences. These measures aim to reduce prison overcrowding and improve public safety; however, they may also have an impact on how criminal behaviour by an elected member is dealt with.

The Local Government Association (LGA) recognises mobile phone theft as a growing and complex issue that requires coordinated national action. Councils have a role to play in supporting prevention and enforcement, particularly through Community Safety Partnerships, but they are not equipped to lead on regulating the resale market or tackling international theft networks.

The LGA has long called for a new Modern Slavery Bill. We would like the Bill to clarify in domestic law the support victims of modern slavery are entitled to. At the moment, the picture can be very complex, with victims having potential entitlements if they have certain characteristics (such as needs under the Care Act, or their immigration status) or under international law.

Fly-tipping is inexcusable. We are calling on Government to remove the cap on fixed penalty notices.

The LGA supports the Government’s amendments to introduce a mandatory duty on certain professionals to report child sexual abuse (CSA) as part of a holistic approach to improving the response to CSA. While it is a positive step forward, the duty must not be considered a silver bullet nor introduced in isolation. It must be supported by wider national action to ensure all professionals are trained to identify abuse, support victims to disclose abuse and ensure they receive the best possible support when they do.

There is a growing threat to democracy and social cohesion posed by conspiracy theories, disinformation and extremist activity, in particular the appalling abuse of councillors.