In the current issue of The Spectator, we put on the cover four words that sum up the coalition government’s approach to crime: pretend not to notice. Today’s Birmingham Mail offers a snapshot of what we mean:
‘The data, released under the Freedom of Information Act, showed the crimes were committed by 11,422 lawbreakers – meaning on average each carried out three offences within 12 months of being released on licence or receiving a community sentence.’
That’s an astonishing 33,000 offences in West Midlands committed over two years by those on the alternatives to jail: suspended sentences or community sentences. Or by those released from jail early, in what’s supposed to be a cost-saving strategy. The symbol of England’s failure in the fight against crime is the tag. Since David Cameron came to power an astonishing 280,000 people have been tagged – more people than were given tax cuts by the last budget – and as Theodore Dalrymple says in his cover story ministers know this does not work.
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