Tougher on crime, tougher on the causes of crime?
Peter Hoskin 5:00pm
In a great post over at Centre-Right, Robert Halfon analyses the Sun’s return to the “Anarchy in the UK” line that it ran with last August. Halfon claims that the Sun’s campaign is indicative of wider worry about anti-social behaviour and crime in this country, and that this is a concern that the Conservatives can capitalise upon:
“This is an issue of real potency to the Conservative fight-back …. What is interesting is that there is a universal recognition (‘Labour’s flop pledges’ in Sun lingo), that years of Labour initiatives and legislation on crime have made little headway.”
If the general reaction to Jacqui Smith’s admission that she won’t walk alone in certain parts of London at night is anything to go by, then I think Halfon may be correct to identify widespread disillusionment with the Government’s record on crime. Throw in prison overcrowding and police unrest, and the cocktail looks perfect for the Conservatives. The only question is of whether Cameron can ever really shake the “hug a hoodie” tag, and convince the public that he’s the man to get tougher on crime and its causes than Labour ever have. But, then again, I guess projecting a tough image is part of the reason why David Davis is Shadow Home Secretary.
Previous
Comments
Nicholas Millman
January 21st, 2008 6:18pmOne of the most bizarre aspects about the New Labour dichotemy personified by Jaqui Smith's admissions has been their inability to tackle anti-social behaviour and disorder in our public places whilst introducing umpteen new laws seeking to criminalise people for petty political offences which in most advanced countries would not even amount to misdemeanours. In the light of prison overcrowding alone Harriet Harmon's plan to criminalise and imprison large numbers of male punters paying for sex with prostitutes appears quite ridiculous, but juxtaposed against the real crime and disorder in our society it borders on the criminally insane. The New Labour moral compass spins crazily but more in response to political correctness than to real crime. Too often the responses are knee-jerk and badly considered, founded on a bed of lies, alarmism and misinformation. After the Dunblane murders New Labour banned all handguns in this country, a typically draconian but apparently useless measure that seems to have been completely forgotten in the current climate of ever increasing gun crime. Every day there seem to be new nanny laws or increased penalties for arch-enemies of society like careless drivers, smokers, fox hunters, people who speak their minds or fat people while nasty, violent thugs on the streets seem able to tax every resource of our police forces with impunity. Citizens who dare to have a go against crime are often banged up themselves. The police forces in this country were established to perform the fundamental duties of ensuring that law and order in our public places is maintained, not to pursue the politicised, politically correct agenda forced upon them by an increasingly deranged government. New Labour's moral compass and the relentless politicisation of the police are actually the greatest threats to our law and order. There are too many red queens and mad hatters in New Labour's cabinet tea party.
mike
January 21st, 2008 10:59pmThe press tell me daily I'm no longer safe. The 24 hours news channels tell me the same. I felt safe, and if it were not for the press I would still feel safe, now I don't. Thing is who do I believe, not "The Sun" surely, no that will never happen. How about the quality papers, much of likeness now though, they all run with the same stories just that the posh ones use longer words. Still we have the good old BBC, not what it was I fear, lost me when they started paying some of the staff six million quid a year, now that can't be right can it ? Think I'll just change channels and skip the scare stories in the newspapers and just wait until I become a victim of crime myself, yes that's what I'll do. I don't know anybody who has been a victim of crime you know. Lived in Lincolnshire for 65 years and the worst I can remember is a bit of chicken rustling on Christmas eve. Perhaps things aren't quite as bad as they are painted after all.
Nicholas Millman
January 21st, 2008 11:15pmI need to correct my earlier post. Apparently Jaqui Smith is going to introduce a temporary exemption for the British shooting team so that they can practice for the Olympics and then reimpose the ban once the Olympics are over. You couldn't make it up. And as for you, mike, lucky man. It wasn't chicken rustlers who murdered Mr Newlove. Can I have an exemption too, Jaqui? I'd like to go after some chicken rustlers.