Moped muggers deserve tough tactics

Theresa May has backed police over controversial new tactics for stopping mopedriding criminals.

The Prime Minister said that a “robust” response was needed from police to what she described as a growing problem of people using mopeds to commit crimes such as bagand phone-snatching.

Scotland Yard last week released dramatic footage showing police vehicles knocking suspects off their scooters.

Senior officers defended the use of “tactical contact”, saying it was needed to stop dangerous chases and has helped reduce moped-enabled crime in London by over a third.

Asked for her view of the tactic during her visit to Argentina for the G20 summit, Mrs May said: “I think it is absolutely right.

“These people on these mopeds are acting unlawfully and committing crimes and I think it’s absolutely right that we see a robust police response to that.”

She added: “Moped crime has been an issue of concern for some time now, as it has been growing in certain areas, in particular in London.”

Labour has raised concerns about the approach, which shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said earlier this week was “potentially very dangerous. It shouldn’t be legal for anyone,” said Ms Abbott. “Police are not above the law.”

But Sajid Javid challenged Ms Abbott’s assessment and said “risk-assessed” tactical contact was necessary.