Britain: Bag stolen from Police Minister during speech

Follow-up - Agencies

British Police Minister Diana Johnson was robbed during a speech to senior officers in the Midlands.

The thief managed to steal the minister's bag while she was giving a lecture at a conference of the Police Supervisors Association in a 4-star hotel crowded with senior officers.

Warwickshire Police arrested a 56-year-old man on suspicion of burglary, who was later released on bail.

The theft comes as the new minister has criticized rising shoplifting, vowing to get "serious about tackling crime" and "rebuilding trust" in the police.

“An epidemic of anti-social behaviour, theft and shoplifting has swept through many town centres and high streets across the country, eroding our communities and cannot be allowed to continue,” the minister told police chiefs.

“There are thousands of fantastic police officers and support staff who do a fantastic job, but we have to face the fact that there are still too many victims of anti-social behaviour who feel that when they call the police, no-one listens, no-one comes and nothing is done,” she added.

As police minister, she will have access to highly sensitive information, although the contents of her briefcase are unknown.