15th August 2025
Freddie van Mierlo, Member of Parliament for Henley and Thame, has strongly criticised Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber following comments made at a public meeting in June, where Mr Barber suggested that members of the public should stand up to shoplifters and described those who film crimes instead of intervening as idiots.
Freddie van Mierlo described the remarks as dangerous and irresponsible, warning that encouraging untrained members of the public to confront criminals puts people at risk and undermines the work of the police.
He called for responsible leadership and a renewed focus on resourcing frontline policing and supporting victims, not shifting the burden of response onto ordinary citizens.
In a public statement shared on social media, Freddie van Mierlo MP said:
“Our Tory Police and Crime Commissioner should hang his head in shame. No, the public should not be asked to confront criminals. It's dangerous and irresponsible.
Please, if you're witnessing a crime or victim of one, call the police.”
“The public are right to be concerned about shoplifting and other crimes like vehicle theft and burglaries. After a decade of tory rule, our police have been without the resources they need and the public are losing faith in their ability to respond to crime. But the solution is not to push the burden of fighting crime onto members of the public. Instead we need a return to community and neighbourhood policing, where crimes are fully investigated and wherever possible prevented”
