Tough On Crime

I've just been reading the Labour Party manifesto from 1997 as part of a thread I was writing on Police Oracle

It surprisingly makes quite interesting reading. I'm not saying that the people who wrote and publicised it were lying. But perhaps they are a little bit...forgetful. Take a cheeky look if you fancy it: http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/lab97.htm

The thing is, before you decide how to cut crime, you have to understand why people commit crime. Basically, it's easier than having a job. If you have a job then you have to turn up on time, be nice to your boss, work reasonably hard, pay tax, sit next to the guy with B.O. during lunch. The list in endless. You can understand why they want to avoid the stress of it all.

Whereas, if you choose to lead a life of crime then you can pretty much work your own hours, you don't have to be nice to people if you don't want, tax is out of the question and if you have to sit next to somebody with B.O. you can get your own back by nicking his wallet.

So, if I'm right and career criminals choose to be such because it's easier, then it follows that we have to make their choice harder.

So this is my manifesto. I'm not actually standing for office, but perhaps this week's Home Secretary might want to cut and paste it and pass it off as his own?

1. Give discretion back to Police officers. If they're not chasing petty rubbish simply to meet Government targets then they can concentrate of giving proper criminals a quality service.

2. Allow the Police Federation, in consultation with ACPO and the Home Office, to decide what level of beaurocracy is actually necessary. You see, we know that some is unavoidable. But, trust me, we can trim it right down for you and so make ourselves more efficient.

3. Build prisons. Lots of them. I reckon about eight to ten should do it. At the moment prison population is around the 80,000 mark. Liberals will try and tell you that this means you have failed. They're wrong! It means you've successfully locked up 80,000 criminals. Imagine how much more successful that makes you if you filled all your new prisons with other criminals.

4. Remember, the first priority for prisons is to make it that bit safer for decent people to walk the streets. Yes, it's nice if they rehabilitate offenders. If possible, we should aim for that. But recognise that some people are inherently dishonest or violent. Not your fault! Just keep them locked up.

5. A 5 year sentence should mean "5 years". Prisoners shouldn't get time off for good behaviour. They should get time added on for bad behaviour. Give this power back to prison governors.

6. Labour tried to show how tough on crime they were by introducing mandatory prison sentences for people who commit their third dwelling burglary. Wrong! I would introduce mandatory prison sentences for people who commit their first dwelling burglary. And, after release, if they commit another one we'll send them back again. For twice as long. And so on. Pretty soon burglars will be receiving 8 year sentences for their crimes. Word will get around: "it's not worth it".

7. A huge proportion of crime is committed by people addicted to Class A drugs. And they are then allowed to use this as mitigation for their crimes. Wrong! Again! They're admitting to further offences. This is an aggravating factor and should whack another few months on top of their sentence.

8. Following on, they know that if they get caught with a "personal" amount on them, they'll get a little slap on the wrist and not much else. Send them to prison for what we'll call "Narcotic Custodial Sentences" - basically you're sentenced to, for example, 6 to 12 months. And whilst they're there offer them drugs counselling. If, and only if, they successfully complete their treatment, they get to leave after 6 months. If not, it's not a problem. They get to stay for the full 12 months.

9. Allow Chief Constables, reporting to an elected Police Authority, to run their own Forces. You see, Home Secretary, you don't live where I do. I've got a better idea of what the problems are outside my front door than you do.

10. Crime is intrinsically anti-social. A crime is committed against society as a whole, as well as the individual victim. So on conviction, a criminal should repay that debt, whether they have received a custodial or a community based punishment. Picking up litter, painting over graffiti, whatever is decided by the Court. And they should be nice and visible while they're doing it.

11. Speaking of anti-social behaviour, if a person is evicted due to their behaviour then they should be blacklisted throughout the country from social housing. Evictions should also be simplified and easier for the Police and Local Authorities to get. I know, they'll say that they've got kids so they can't be made homeless. That's OK. We'll put the children into care. Let's face it, they'll probably be better off than with their parents.

Anyway, just a few ideas. I won't hold my breath for the Liberal Democrats asking me to stand in the next election. But, honestly, the vast majority of people out there just want to be safe and don't want to have to worry about whether their DVD player will be there when they get back from the shops.