Catching criminals

The new government is allocating more money to the police and recruiting more police personnel. At the same time figures have emerged showing a current low level of clear up of many reported crimes. I would be interested in your views on what the police priorities should be, as they set about deploying the additional police that become available to them.

Some say there is currently insufficient attention to burglary, breaking and entering and car theft. Others counter that social media hate crime can lead to crimes of violence, and that on line fraud is now a more serious source of theft than break ins. Given that the police cannot be everywhere and have  to prioritise their energy and time, what would be a good  balance?

How much attention should be given to traffic offences?Ā  How can the police prevent domestic violence without getting dragged into many family disputes that will not end in violence?Ā  Can we get better at spendingĀ  the big sums the state as a whole spends on troubled families? ThenĀ  thereĀ could be Ā less need for police intervention as social services and welfare have found ways to Ā get people through their problems that could otherwise spark anti social behaviour and worse.

Nationally there is considerable concern about knife crime, and a clear wish to see convicted terrorists kept away from harming the public more. There is also a strong wish to police ourĀ  borders better once fully out of the EU so we do not admit additional Ā criminals in the first place.

157 Comments

  1. GilesB
    February 9, 2020

    The police need fundamental reform, not just a revision of priorities.

    They were founded in a simpler age without modern technology. Criminals stayed in a local area and crime was physical whether against persons or property. A geographical concept of policing was right at that time – the Bobby on the beat who was capable of dealing with every eventuality. They had all the necessary training in the law, knowledge and equipment required. Every Bobby had identical role and responsibility.

    This is totally anachronistic and inappropriate now. Police Forces have developed some specialist units eg Fraud squad. This needs to go much further. Also Police in Australia have found it even better to organise by type of criminal rather than type of crime.

    With specialist roles, individuals can receive much better training, without having to be prepared for a generalist role, leading to much higher productivity. And they do not need to be subject to ā€˜no strikingā€™ rules and uniformed disciplines.

    There is no right to not be offended. People should worry less about what people say about them online. We have laws against incitement to violence. We have laws of slander and libel: there should be easier access to the courts – perhaps more law firms offering no win, no fee services. But we donā€™t need police resources wasted on vulgar name-calling.

    Online fraud is a problem. The technology exists to improve authentication significantly – so that people can be sure with whom they are interacting.

    Online platforms are publishers and should bear some responsibility for the advertisements that they carry. For example, everywhere I go ads pop up saying that there are loads of people in that vicinity making millions from various scams. Obviously there are not. Can the law be changed so that I can take out a civil case against the publisher for misleading advertising? Or if that is already the case, can that be more widely publicised.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      February 9, 2020

      It’s a pity that this issue was not the one used to stir up public emotion for general election purposes, rather than the European Union.

      Especially as recent research estimates the cost of fraud alone in the UK at Ā£193 billion every single year – about the same as the the cost of our contributions for the WHOLE of our membership.

      The trouble is, the figures would have shown that Labour governments have generally been better at reducing crime than Conservative ones, and so it would have caused people to vote the “wrong” way.

      Don’t you agree, John?

      1. Fred H
        February 9, 2020

        You make it sound like there was a choice – give up desire to leave the EU, and save Ā£193bn. As usual you write nonsense too often.

        1. Martin in Cardiff
          February 9, 2020

          No, just that if the same effort had been put into trying to prevent crime by politicians as was put into trying to stir up anti-European Union sentiment, based on anti-immigrant distortions and the rest, then it might have saved this country a huge amount, rather than costing it the same.

          1. Fred H
            February 9, 2020

            I didn ‘t realise ‘crime by politicians’ was as bad as that – but I’ll take your word for it!
            It was not anti-immigrant it was anti-immigration levels. Quite different. I imagine we have all come to know immigrants arrived here in the last few years and welcomed them. What was being raised was the open-doors issue of EU freedom of movement. You again try subtle use of words that frankly are irresponsible and incorrect.

          2. Edward2
            February 9, 2020

            The desire to leave the EU came from the people.
            At grass roots level.
            The opposition came from the elite.

          3. Martin in Cardiff
            February 10, 2020

            No, reliable surveys showed that European Union membership was very low in importance for all but a few percent until the mass propaganda campaigns ramped up.

            That is why ukip only polled a few percent for many years.

          4. czerwonadupa
            February 10, 2020

            You don’t get freedom do you. Ok to give it to Indians & Africans but not to the British. Unless of course you wish to revoke the independence given to all these countries like you wish for this country

          5. Edward2
            February 10, 2020

            Odd that over half the electorate, 17.4 million voters, decided to leave and then gave the Conservatives a huge majority to get brexit done.
            Still in denial then Martin.

    2. IanT
      February 9, 2020

      An interesting post Giles and some ideas with regards ‘specialisation’ well worth considering. The idea of focusing on criminal types is also interesting.

      However, for new ‘online’ crimes, the best solution is to use technology to prevent it – together with better education & understanding by users. Of course, the large social media/search companies should be made to take more legal responsibility for the content on their sites – and I’m sure they would find the necessary algorithms to do so if the right financial incentives to do so were provided.

      1. Martin in Cardiff
        February 9, 2020

        As Peter Hitchens has repeatedly emphasised, catching criminals should only be half of the police’s job.

        The other, and more important part, should be the prevention of crime.

        For that, a visible presence is required, as there used to be in the 1960s.

        That costs money.

        1. Fred H
          February 9, 2020

          It would cost money – but what could be saved by restricting lots of crimes , violence, vandalism, graffiti, public disorder, burglary, car crime, motoring offences – even criminal traders. Nothing wlll change until we make a start.

          1. Martin in Cardiff
            February 10, 2020

            Yes, but present political doctrine says that governments should not raise funds by taxation and then spend them.

            Doesn’t it?

    3. Matthew
      February 10, 2020

      Completely disagree with the reduction of bobbies on the beat.

      Conservatives want a return to the original Peelite doctrines and practices of *British* law.

      Not a technocratic nightmare or a Fracophone/Americanized form of hyper-steroided bullies who are above the law.

  2. Stephen Priest
    February 9, 2020

    I still think the Government are going to let the police prioritise arresting people for sending so called offensive tweets before arresting anyone for burglary.

    I might be wrong but so far Johnson is just Continuation Blair Part 3.

    HS2
    Hauwei
    Banning Petrol cars by 2035
    Mansion Tax
    Forcing people to rip out gas boilers
    Lords Hammond and Clarke

    The Government is more interested in keeping a 17 year old Swedish Schoolgirl happy than it is in helping British voters.

    Less than 2 months since the General Election and a very BIG disappointment.

    Why vote Conservative again?

    1. Lifelogic
      February 9, 2020

      Exactly, yet another tax, borrow and waste PM and Chancellor. The economy is desperate for tax cuts and smaller government we have the highest taxes for 40 years and yet they just want to increase them further. I am grateful he kept a Corbyn/SNP government out but that last thing we need if yet more socialism.

      On the police my impression is they do virtually nothing about crimes if they possible can get away with this. They avoid doing anything. They like to avoid even taking crime reports if they can do. They release provenly dangerous knife wielding mental health patients to the community within hours (not out problem mate social services).

      We clearly need to deter crime and prevent is happening where possible. The best way to do this is to make people think A. that they will be caught and B. That the punishment is a real deterrent. They and the courts have completely failed or given up on this. I am with Peter Hitchens (on this issue) and his excellent book on Crime.

    2. Lifelogic
      February 9, 2020

      Indeed can someone remind them that Thatcher won three elections (four really with Major as her (very foolishly) chosen man) whereas Heath, Major, Cameron and May have been appalling disasters. Even Thatcherā€™s government was essentially a big government pro EU, socialist one. Cameron only won by lying that he was a real EU sceptic, low tax Conservative until elected.

      We need far lower taxes and far less government. We need freedom of choice in health care, education and much else. The state should be 25% of GDP (it would then be a far higher GDP) not the nearly 50% they mainly waste now.

    3. Bob
      February 9, 2020

      “Why vote Conservative again?”

      Because UKIP are seen as too radical for some. They would actually have properly left the EU by now, and the BBC Licence would have been abolished along with
      ā€¢ Inheritance Tax
      ā€¢ HS2
      ā€¢ Stamp Duty
      ā€¢ Overseas Aid (replaced with disaster relief)
      ā€¢ Tuition Fees for STEM subjects
      ā€¢ The House of Lords

    4. glen cullen
      February 9, 2020

      A brave new world post brexit; not really….same old same old

      And its obvious to every man and his dog that crime figures are down due people not reporting crime because they have no faith in the system

    5. BOF
      February 9, 2020

      Agreed, Stephen. Not just a continuation of Blair, but of Cameron and May as well.

    6. cosmic
      February 9, 2020

      “Why vote Conservative again?”

      I imagine the thinking goes that there isn’t much of a choice, as the other two main options are even worse, and would do things which are even greater lunacy. This may prove to be a mistake.

      Many of these policies appear designed to pander to people who are never going to vote Conservative.

    7. Ian @Barkham
      February 9, 2020

      @Stephen Priest

      It would appear from todays MsM

      HS2 contractors are Conservative donors – so taxpayer money to them goes back to the Tories.

      Banning Cars without an alternative is lunacy. Lithium batteries need Nickle, Nickle is in short supply (not enough for world needs). Indonesia, a large supplier has banned its export.

      Hauwei, BT is in hock to them. Stop Hauwei and BT goes down the pan

      You are right it is more about deploying the thought police, than creating a society were we can all thrive.

      I am not so sure on Blair 3, Boris and Co are moving left of Corbyn and fast.

      1. Lifelogic
        February 9, 2020

        You say ā€œHS2 contractors are Conservative donors ā€“ so taxpayersā€™ money to them goes back to the Tories.ā€

        Clearly there are no other sensible reasons for going ahead with HS2. So it surely must be corruption (or gross incompetence)? But surely the former.

        I have yet to meet anyone in favour of it. Lord Adonis and Debden are in favour – surely this alone is conclusive proof that it should be cancelled.

    8. Ian Wragg
      February 9, 2020

      Correct. Boris is exhibiting al the traits of Blair with his wasteful sociaist policies. Now theres talk of a mansion tax and dropping pension tax relief to 20%.
      This won’t affect politicians or the public sector. Pension apartheid.
      Why vote Tory ever again. Just watch him roll over to the EU on fishing.

      1. Narrow Shoulders
        February 10, 2020

        Yes, measures to tax pension pots would be much fairer if they targeted public sector fixed benefit schemes rather than private sector variable contribution schemes.

        I thought conservatives rewarded risk.

    9. Turboterrier
      February 9, 2020

      Stephen Priest.

      You are not wrong.

      All the decisions listed will come back to destroy what little is left of a once great party..

      Unlike our host Boris is not listening. SJR might not always agree with what we write but at least he has had a sight of our fears and concerns. Everything on your list I would personally scrap. Spend the money on much needed smaller projects and start try to exceed the expectations of the electorate

    10. Fred H
      February 9, 2020

      not so much following BLAIR, but more dismal Cameron, horrendous May – is Boris following in the footsteps of ultimate disappointment with Tory MPs?

      1. UK Qanon
        February 9, 2020

        The Globalist Establishment have twigged his ear a little harder.

      2. Fred H
        February 9, 2020

        and PMs.

    11. Original Richard
      February 9, 2020

      Stephen Priest ā€œWhy vote Conservative again?ā€ :

      A majority of the UK will be eternally grateful to the Conservative Party because they alone amongst the existing major political parties represented in the HoC and HoL believed in democracy and carried out as promised the result of the EU referendum.

      However, this means that the UK electorate are now ultimately able to determine the policies that our country will follow and the Conservative Party, and indeed the whole of the HoC, may well find that a majority of the population are not in favour of crippling taxation, reduced living standards, disruption to their lives, restrictions on travel and even rationing in order to make a futile gesture towards curbing what is known as AGW.

      Just as UKIP arose to tackle a HoC dedicated to remaining in the EU a new party may arise to fight against climate change legislation.

  3. SM
    February 9, 2020

    The police act as they are told to do by their management – it seems that statistics that can be presented as positive are more important than what is actually happening on the ground.

    Why have police management closed so many major community police stations, for instance? Why are there no longer ‘bobbies on the beat’ who got to know their local communities and with whom one could have a quiet word about potential problems?

    Of what possible use are Police Commissioners? I have yet to read of any benefits from yet another layer of expensive bureaucracy.

    1. Lifelogic
      February 9, 2020

      Indeed some police officers are indeed excellent people risking their lives every day who know what is needed and are doing their best. But they are being misled by management and politicians. Just listen to Cressida Dick whose main agenda seems to be having a diverse police force that reflects Londonā€™s diversity. This rather than one that actually works efficiently, saves lives and actually deters crime. Just listen to all her interviews she is totally the wrong person for the job.

      They even announce that they have given up on things like shoplifting how does that deter crime.

      1. Lifelogic
        February 9, 2020

        Also when court sentencing is often so very lenient what is the point in the police going to great efforts to prosecute only to then see the criminal laugh at them as he walks out of court without so much as slap on the wrist?

      2. Al
        February 9, 2020

        The one thing that is never mentioned is making the police more effective by cutting their paperwork. There’s a reason Hot Fuzz is considered an accurate police movie, and it is because it is the only one that shows the amount of paperwork that has to be completed for each offense, each reported offense, etc. If officers weren’t spending so much time filling forms out, perhaps we could have bobbies on the beat again.

        1. Lifelogic
          February 9, 2020

          Not just the police but teachers, farmers, landlords, doctors, nurses, anyone who employs anyone, tax payers, property developers, bankers, lawyers and almost everyone else in the private sector and indeed the state sector is drowning in often pointless but costly paperwork. Many peopleā€™s jobs consists almost entirely of this parasitic activity. Daft red tape & laws, over complex tax rules, OTT health and safely, OTT employment laws and all the rest is the main cause.

    2. Cheshire Girl
      February 9, 2020

      SM:

      I think the answer to your questions lay with the Government. They are so afraid of. causing offence, that they have the Police running round, investigating things like ā€˜inappropriate touchingā€™ going back 40 or more years, and so called ā€˜hate crimesā€™ that are often just a mild comment.

      Why blame the Police for closing Police Stations up and down the country? Their instructions to do so, came down from the Government of the day.

      As I recall, Police and Crime Commissioners were instigated by David Cameron. Most people at the time, thought it was a ridiculous, and expensive, move.

      1. glen cullen
        February 9, 2020

        I witnessed what I believed as a serious travel infringement ie a foreign HGV had 3 completely bald tyres showing wire, the HGV as travelling fast under a full load, so I took a picture (along side at lights) wanting as a good citizen to inform the police

        I went to my local police station which had been closed to the pubic 12 mths earlier, so went to my second closest police station in a busy town to find that they didnā€™t have any allotted car parking spaces for the public. So after 30mins using a non-emergency police number they told me that they couldnā€™t accept my picture nor take any statement because it was a foreign vehicle. So I emailed my police commissioner to receive a standard email reply after 2 weeks saying they would past on my info to the appropriate body

        Whats the point

        1. a-tracy
          February 10, 2020

          glen, please write back to the police commissioner and ask what the result from the appropriate body was, has the foreign transport company been fined, was the vehicle checked on the return Ferry, if not why not?

  4. Nig l
    February 9, 2020

    I am not going to detail a reply. Thinking about your acceptance of crime makes me too angry. With that and suggested tax rises, {Sunday Telegraph) we might as well have elected the Socialists.

    1. Stephen Priest
      February 9, 2020

      Get Brexit Done?

      The real slogan should have been:

      Vote Conservative, Get Labour.

      1. Fred H
        February 9, 2020

        or Get Brexit done eventually, but in the meantime wonder what you elected.

        1. John Hatfield
          February 10, 2020

          “Get Brexit done” appears to carry the same weight as “Brexit means Brexit”.

    2. Everhopeful
      February 9, 2020

      Absolutely.Spot on.

    3. Lifelogic
      February 9, 2020

      We have indeed clearly elected tax borrow and waste, greencrap pushing socialists, just ones that are not as bad as Corbyn dog wagged by the National Socialist Party of Scotland or SNP.

      I seems we might get some choice on the level of BBC access we have to pay for. Will we also be able to opt out of the endless indoctrination/propaganda on Climate Alarmism, everything PC, the drivel on gender pay and diversity, the huge benefits of the EU, the need for ever bigger government, their anti-white male agenda and similar?

  5. Shirley
    February 9, 2020

    I’ve lost trust in Parliament. Totally.

    Once we leave the EU, I do NOT want to see foreign criminals given Ā£thousands in Legal Aid to enable them to remain in this country. We have enough home grown criminals that ply their trade with impunity, mostly with the full knowledge of the police.

    I will never forgive those who allowed the rape gangs to operate for so long (and probably are still ongoing). It appears some ‘minorities’ are allowed to break the law with impunity unless someone is brave enough to blow the whistle and inform the public thereby forcing action against these crimes.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      February 10, 2020

      Those people did not come from the European Union.

      Many of them were born here, to people who came from other parts of the British Commonwealth, so were not even immigrants at all, even if their forebears were.

      Criminal law has always been a sovereign matter for this country too, so leaving the European Union has not the slightest bearing on your aspirations.

      1. Edward2
        February 10, 2020

        Not correct.
        Our EU membership means we are then signed up to the ECJ and in turn to the ECHR
        The result is an inability to deport criminals on the right to family life ruling.
        Anchor babies as it is commonly called.

  6. Matthew
    February 9, 2020

    Top priorities for me: arresting (and imprisoning):
    MAJOR PRIORITIES:
    burglars,
    break & enters,
    pick-pockets/petty-theives, &
    people involved in knife crime,
    gangs,
    incidents of causing harm or rape,
    criminal-record checks at border,
    AND major/(and minor?) fraud.

    So that means more bobbies on the beat, as it were.

    Basically, serious crimes are the big priority for me.

    Priorities are based on what actually bothers me: Those usually involve violence, or theft, or something bigger than “words”.

    MINOR PRIORITIES:

    Traffic offences: I would abolish most low-level traffic offences (such as parking in a certain area 2 hours longer than allowed), because I just find traffic people irritating. But that’s a personal perspective and not necessarily the correct governing approach. I understand the local council wants to make a buck, and this isn’t the worst way to do it. It would be worse if they just raised property taxes for example.
    They pay for themselves if you pay staff based on a portion of what they ticket, and pay a minimum wage, which is not paid if they have ticketed more than their minimum wage, and instead moves to a portion of ticketing income.

    Domestic violence: Not an expert in this by any stretch. But on the surface of it, if someone threw a stick at someone, and they’re not a criminal, slap them with a ticket to attend counselling. Or just put a small, but significant fine on it. Like 50 pounds. And then each subsequent offences would ratchet up. But perhaps the best resolution is to just ask them to attend a counselling session or apologise.

    NO PRIORITY GIVEN / STAFFING UNNECESSARY:

    Insults online or offline: So something like insults exchanged online would NOT be a priority. Zero staff needed. If someone calls someone else ‘odious’ or whatever, as people often do to the US President, sadly, in this day and age, for me, that’s a case of ‘take it on the chin’.

    LGBTQ issues: If you are mis-named, this is not a crime. Take it on the chin. Learn some fortitude.

    Rude or mean-spirited or even racist incidents which are minor: If someone looks at someone the wrong way, and one of the two parties deem it rude or racist, let it go.

  7. Everhopeful
    February 9, 2020

    This is all rather stable door and bolted horse.
    If govts had not deliberately set out to ruin what we had we would not be living in an unsafe, crime-ridden country.
    Ditto if law enforcement had ever worked…which since the first watchman with his staff and lantern it hasnā€™t!
    We never did need ā€œpoliceā€…just a properly structured society. But no..politicians have always dedicated their efforts to kicking away all the props that kept us safe.
    To be honest I am so gutted by what the Tories are doing…I just donā€™t care any more.

    1. L Jones
      February 9, 2020

      Everhopeful
      On reading public comments on many different websites, it seems there’s a creeping sense of disappointment, if not despair, with what it seems the Tories are planning. BJ once upon a time appeared to be his own man. He certainly talks a good talk, but it feels as if people are coming to disbelieve his rhetoric.
      I wish we could trust him – but he’ll have to start giving us some real hope. That includes this concerning criminals, those here and those to come (and they will) and also HS2 nonsense, foreign aid profligacy, undoing the harm caused to the US relationship through Huawei, dropping attempts to appease the EU ”friends”, and so on.
      There seems to be no general feeling that our country is being put first.

    2. Fedupsoutherner
      February 9, 2020

      Ever hopeful. Your last sentence sums up how many of us feel. Boris and his cabinet are a big let down. I really thought things would improve with a sensible Tory government but the most idiotic decisions have been taken since coming to power. If Boris capitulate to the EU over trade negotiations – and I think he might then in my book he will go down as the worst PM in a very long time. As for the police. They are concentrating too much on so called hate crime while turning a blind eye to the rape of young girls. Even if serious criminals actually get caught our lawyers and the courts give too much emphasise and care to the perpetrators than the victims and sentences are a joke. I despair at where this country is going and who we have making these dire decisions.

    3. dixie
      February 10, 2020

      I agree. I have heard it said we are policed by consent, this is based on a common foundation of beliefs, attitudes and behaviours which as you say have been “kicked away” by establishment action and apathy.

      Boris Johnson’s government is doing nothing to repair this damage. Words do not matter, it is actions.

  8. DOMINIC
    February 9, 2020

    I saw the term ‘Hate crime’ and winced. I give up with your party. Its MPs are an embarrassment

    This two word term is an offence to all Tory voters and an attack of freedom of expression. May’s collaboration with Marxist Labour to force through this deeply abhorrent set of laws is a stain on your party

    It is not an exaggeration to say that Orwellian State practice is now the order of the day. I even feel nervous posting messages on this website. That is what MPs have done to this nation

    1. Lifelogic
      February 9, 2020

      Indeed. Douglas Murray in the Telegraph today asks:- Where are all the conservative thinkers who should be rebalancing public life?

      Where indeed? Certainly not in this government it seems.

    2. Lifelogic
      February 9, 2020

      Is it worse to be stabbed/shot/attacked/murdered as a ā€œhate crimeā€ rather than just stabbed/shot/attacked/murdered in general?

      1. Pud
        February 9, 2020

        The phrase “Hate crime” always reminds me of the following from the excellent series Life on Mars:
        Sam Tyler : I think we need to explore whether this attempted murder was a hate crime.
        Gene Hunt : What, as opposed to one of those I-really-really-like-you sort of murders?

        1. Lifelogic
          February 9, 2020

          Indeed.

    3. Everhopeful
      February 9, 2020

      Dā€™you know I always feel worried re posting.
      Waiting for the knock at the door!
      What they have done to us, as you say.

    4. agricola
      February 9, 2020

      Absolutely correct. PC is rife in this diary.

  9. Kenneth
    February 9, 2020

    We have a big problem where the State has attempted to take direct responsibility every individual.

    This has resulted in families having a diminished role in caring for and policing their own members.

    If we take into account the power of self-policing by families, I’d suggest that we lose policing power every time the State ramps up resources into this area.

    I suggest we need to force criminals to pay towards the cost of their crime, including police, court and prison costs and, if they cannot pay, force their wider families to foot the bill. I think that would increase police power while reducing costs to the taxpayer.

    1. Gordon Nottingham
      February 10, 2020

      Kenneth your LAST paragraph is BRILLIANT and should be ENFORCED. Can somebody tell BORIS ?

  10. Sharon Jagger
    February 9, 2020

    Reading todayā€™s comments so far, it would seem many agree with me that the government still canā€™t get past the Cultural Marxism behaviour that has polluted our society. Hate ā€˜crimesā€™ arenā€™t crimes, stealing someoneā€™s handbag, stabbing someone…those are both crimes.

    Prevent low level crime by making people fear the consequences – and this will deter many from going on to commit further and more serious crimes. Stop pandering to ā€˜minority communitiesā€™. If you live on our island, all are subject to the same laws! Equally!

    However, to achieve this, the absurd judiciary system needs sorting out. Thereā€™s no point in the police arresting criminals for them to walk free. The judiciary needs their swamp draining too.

    And I too am quite disappointed in the ā€˜Conservative ā€˜ party so far. Each time a topic is mentioned I cross my fingers for a good outcome- but no, the decision made is always disappointing! I shanā€™t list the items, others have done that in their comments.

  11. Bryan Harris
    February 9, 2020

    Societies liberal pc attitude to criminals must change.
    On the one hand we have criminals and terrorists guilty of heinous acts of violence, rape and murder being released early for their human rights, while individuals that try to expose the grooming gang are pursued through the courts without mercy.
    It is even criminal to be right wing FGS – Labour have done a great job in demonizing the right while we see their hard core supporters simply called protestors when in fact they are rioting and causing enormous damage
    The way the police send 6 or more officers to investigate and intimidate ordinary people for such vile crimes as flying the Union Jack is a total disgrace.
    The way police intimidated BREXIT marchers while painting their faces to linger with LGBT parades or taking lessons in the local mosque, just shows how far the police have become weaponised against the old British model of fairness and common sense.

  12. Lifelogic
    February 9, 2020

    Far better than ā€œcatching themā€ is deterring them from committing the crimes in the first place. We seem to have completely given up on this.

  13. MickN
    February 9, 2020

    The sad thing is that people have lost such trust in the police that they no longer report crimes as they know nothing will b done. We must report ALL crimes no matter how trivial. Failing to do so allows politicians of all parties to claim success because they have reduced the levels of reported crimes.

  14. Kevin
    February 9, 2020

    “Others counter that social media hate crime can lead to crimes of violence…. Given that the police cannot be everywhere…, what would be a good balance?”

    I cannot answer this question without a given definition of the term, “social media hate crime”. I would also like the Government to explain the above argument in the context of its policy on the media in general. For example, since the Sixties at least, it has been a commonplace to say that there is “no scientific evidence” of a link between actual violent crime and its depiction in film. This very demanding approach to cause and effect in the context of cinema appears to be missing when it comes to the prosecution of speech on social media.

  15. Alan Jutson
    February 9, 2020

    You probably need some serving officers to make comment on here, as they are on the front line, in order to get more definitive information.

    My take is that crime in total is rising, so to combat that you need more police, and given the population of the Country is rising Police numbers should rise by at least the same proportion to keep up with the

    The areas that seem to cause most problems appear to be around drugs, and crime to feed a an ever growing habit/need.

    We now have additional/new crimes compared to years past, and identity fraud and electronic crime seems to be growing massively.

    Political correctness is also growing massively but is not a crime. whatever happened to so called free speech, as long as it is not preaching hate or incitement to riot.

    Police visibility on its own is a deterrent as is education, and Police visiting schools should be encouraged more than at present.

  16. Alan Jutson
    February 9, 2020

    Oops

    “to keep up with that growth just to stand still !

  17. Old Albion
    February 9, 2020

    All the time we allow criminals to rack up three, four ā€¦ā€¦ā€¦ā€¦ā€¦ā€¦ twenty thirty convictions. But still allow them to walk free, we’ll have a crime epidemic. Lock them away first time or at a minimum ‘three strikes and your out’
    Not enough prison space! Then build some more, it’s quite straightforward.

    1. Fred H
      February 9, 2020

      and stop family visits – build on islands – if not enough make them like the Chinese (ha ha ).

  18. DOMINIC
    February 9, 2020

    I thought Johnson would confront woke fascism and liberal left infection. No. He’s double downed on it. Why, when he knows deep in his heart he should be confronting it. It’s infecting our world. We can’t escape from it. It’s immersion and it’s political. It’s disturbing in its reach and penetration into our living rooms

    Who’s in control of Johnson?

    1. steve
      February 9, 2020

      DOMINIC

      “Whoā€™s in control of Johnson?”

      I suspect big business, globalists and their environmentalist dummy sidekicks etc. And to some extent Varadkar.

      But only until the next election. I think he will have made enemies out of most of us by then.

  19. The Prangwizard
    February 9, 2020

    Where do we start? The people are faced with a politucal establishment, the judiciary, the higher levels of the police and the bureaucracy which is not listening and does not wish to listen. The Boris statement to reduce sentence remission is merely a gesture and has of course been met with much opposition from the establishment. It will probably be dropped.

    The whole emphasis on rehabilitation needs shifting towards punishment. Endless excuses for criminal behaviour are made which merely serve to encourage more. Police should enforce the traditional laws first. They tolerate endless crime against the person and property. They are unsympathetic towards victims. Drugs are a menace and must be prioritised.

    There is more to be said. People would say more but in the main are up against a brick wall of resistance. Sadly the recent GE result will make little more than token change.

  20. Andy
    February 9, 2020

    How about investing in things that stop people becoming criminals in the first place?

    Extra money for schools and, in particular, after school clubs.

    Poverty reduction. Mental health services. Drug and alcohol treatment.

    Building more prison places and locking more people up is a sign of failure.

    Closing prisons because you donā€™t need to lock anyone up is success.

    1. steve
      February 9, 2020

      Andy

      “Extra money for schools and, in particular, after school clubs.”

      ……it isn’t about money, it’s about politically correct teaching, bad parenting, and the kind of crap kids heads are filled with these days.

      “Poverty reduction. Mental health services. Drug and alcohol treatment.”

      …….complex issues, but indicative of decline brought about by selfishness, ‘I’m alright Jack’ and everything being profit driven.

      “Building more prison places and locking more people up is a sign of failure.”

      …..agreed.

      “Closing prisons because you donā€™t need to lock anyone up is success.”

      Can only agree with that, but would we ever get there ?

    2. Martin in Cardiff
      February 9, 2020

      Well, making work per se less demeaning – emancipating employees – would make crime far less attractive, relatively, to a type of young male.

      However, it seems to me, that maybe the born-to-rulers believe that work should be intrinsically oppressive and humiliating, to teach the employed their “proper” place?

      You tell me, Andy.

      1. a-tracy
        February 10, 2020

        How much meaningful work for people are you personally creating Martin?
        If you are so sure it is that easy to create meaningful work for all even those with low skills and low achievement then are you getting on with it and what jobs are they?

        Why aren’t the Unions setting up their own Companies instead of parasitically taking their cut from someone else’s endeavours?

    3. Fred H
      February 9, 2020

      yawn.

    4. Gordon Nottingham
      February 10, 2020

      Andy I never thought I would EVER agree with one of your posts BUT this strikes a chord with me.

  21. Jaundiced I
    February 9, 2020

    Decriminalise where possible. “The Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem, hosted by the US Administration on 24 September at the UN, signals the continuation of inefficient, costly and harmful policies. These policies result in punitive law enforcement, militarization, mass incarceration, forced treatment, and broken families and communities. Most importantly, they also result in the loss of human dignity and lives.

    Attempts to eradicate drug supply and use through prohibition-based repressive measures against people who use drugs have proved expensive and counter-productive for more than 50 years. The US government, which tried and abandoned alcohol prohibition, and now faces an unprecedented opioid crisis, should know this better than anyone ā€“ especially at a time when numerous states are moving away from prohibition and towards regulation.”
    Solves the Prison shortage problem and frees up Police, Customs and Armed forces.

    1. Pud
      February 9, 2020

      The trouble with the “legalise drugs and criminals stop offending” argument is that criminals adapt. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t have to worry about phishing emails, malware etc.

  22. Anonymous
    February 9, 2020

    This post is an insult.

    I am boycotting this site.

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      February 9, 2020

      Anon. ??????? An explanation please.

  23. jerry
    February 9, 2020

    What ever the police spend this extra money on, the fight against crime should be evidence lead, not by the need to meet some target [1], policing is reactionary, either to a crime committed or to intelligence received.

    The police need to be made to move away from regarding so many (common sense, obvious) accidents a crime scene until proven otherwise, not only does it cause totally unnecessary worry to the parties + local businesses & residents involved but often seals off areas for hours -especially roads or railway routes involved.

    Regarding RTAs, in the USA I understand the Highway police in many States are duty bound to keep the road open, even during recovery work, unless there really is no other option than to close down the highway.

    I have to agree somewhat with those who have suggested a total rethink on UK policing, for one thing the police have in the last 40 years become far to politicised.

    [1] often politically, worse still, fiscally lead due to the receipts from fix penalty fines and Victim surcharge etc.

    1. steve
      February 9, 2020

      jerry

      “Regarding RTAs, in the USA I understand the Highway police in many States are duty bound to keep the road open, even during recovery work, unless there really is no other option than to close down the highway.”

      Good point Jerry.

      In fact most countries emergency services keep the road open, but not here….any excuse and they shut the lot down. Despite often knowing straight away what caused the incident.

      In my opinion the police sold their souls years ago, in return for imported toys, some of which banned under international convention. E.g – electro cardiac disruption is classified as an instrument of torture.

      You mention the fight against crime should be evidence led. On that point the police should be made to act on dash cam footage where this clearly shows an offence has been committed, instead of doing nothing whatsoever.

      I have experience of that, however one of these days they will be asking me for dash cam footage, I might refuse on the basis of their expectations being different when the shoe is on the other foot.

  24. Anonymous
    February 9, 2020

    A real Tory KNOWS what to do about crime.

    I give up.

    1. Fred H
      February 9, 2020

      Do you mean:
      Confiscate assets?
      Build more prisons?
      Deny family visits?
      Cut a finger off for burglary?
      Cut something else off for serial rape?
      Reintroduce capital punishment?

      I think not.
      Shame.

  25. Mrs Alias
    February 9, 2020

    Mr Raab tweeted minutes ago that he has just come back from Wuhan with over a hundred people. I tweeted in answer immediately “So we won’t be seeing you for two weeks?”

    He hasn’t tweeted back yet

  26. Javelin
    February 9, 2020

    Culture is downstream of crime.

  27. Mark B
    February 9, 2020

    Good morning.

    Is one therefore to take it that the Conservative Government under CMD, was wrong when, the then Home Secretary, cut the numbers of police and told them to stop complaining ?

    It seems that past government policies are coming home to bite. But it is going to take time to hire and bring in the right people.

    As to crimes, what about sentencing ? No good catching dangerous people only for others to recommend releasing them a few years later.

    What we need is wholesale urgent review of our entire justice system. We need a ‘Three strikes and you’re in for life’ law for those who perpetuate serious crimes. We need to bring back the treason and sedition laws. We need to look at the Supreme Court and its role.

    The law is the law, and the law, no matter what law, needs to be upheld. No silly prioritising.

    1. steve
      February 9, 2020

      Mark B

      “The law is the law, and the law, no matter what law, needs to be upheld. No silly prioritising.”

      Except that many laws discriminate against our enshrined rights. For examples; free speech – heavily suppressed, TV watershed – certain groups allowed to trespass into family viewing time.

      Now they’re even telling us it’s a crime to ‘dislike’.

      ID checks – I know someone who wants to get married but is told he cannot do so without having a bank account, seriously !

      The point being he’s English through and through, why should any English person have to prove their identity in their own country ? Political correctness in the extreme.

      Many laws need scrapping, and those responsible for them brought to public shame in my opinion.

      Then again we always get prospective governments saying they will abolish injustices of the previous governments if elected, but did you ever hear of one that actually did ? No, not a single one.

      Who reversed any of Blair’s anti – English legislations? No one !

      “No good catching dangerous people only for others to recommend releasing them a few years later.”

      But many of those who make the law are themselves dangerous people…..you see the problem here ?

      1. Andy
        February 9, 2020

        Disliking is not a crime. Inciting hate is a crime. The two are different.

        1. Fred H
          February 9, 2020

          ‘The offence of incitement to hatred occurs when someone acts in a way that is threatening and intended to stir up hatred. That could be in words, pictures, videos, music, and includes information posted on websites.’

          Sir John you may want to consider some regular contributers on here.

        2. Edward2
          February 9, 2020

          Saying something that is defined as unacceptable to another person can now be reported as a hate crime.
          The crime is defined by the eye of the beholder.
          The Police say all such reports must be recorded taken seriously and investigated.
          You should read up on the laws in this area Andy.

      2. jerry
        February 9, 2020

        @Steve; When was the TV watershed made into law?!

        The watershed is, and has always been guidance only for certain content, but even then if there is editorial justification such content can be shown at any time of day -so long as a suitable warning is given.

        “why should any English person have to prove their identity in their own country”

        But how do they prove they are English, in their own country, without providing some form of ID?!

        “Many laws need scrapping, and those responsible for them brought to public shame in my opinion. [..//..] But many of those who make the law are themselves dangerous peopleā€¦..you see the problem here”

        As are many who denounce others as being dangerous, simply because they do not share the same political opinions. Are we forgetting all the lessons the 1930s…

      3. Mark B
        February 9, 2020

        Steve

        It is hard to disagree with your impassioned post. But we must ask ourselves – who gives the power to those that make, change and repeal our laws ? Because until we fix that nothing is going to change.

  28. Jack Falstaff
    February 9, 2020

    A good place to start would be by not letting convicted criminals out early.
    Bigger and better prisons are needed too.
    The police are not to blame for these problems.

    1. jerry
      February 9, 2020

      @Jack Falstaff; “Bigger and better prisons are needed”

      A better place to start might be reviewing the Mental Health facilities and the laws that govern being sectioned and for how long, certain types of crimes are mental health issues, not judicial. We probably don’t need more prisons but instead do need more/new capacity within the high security mental health hospitals.

      There are a whole swath of ‘criminals’, from petty to serious offences, who should never have seen the inside of such places, then once inside becoming either the student of crime or a tutor.

  29. BJC
    February 9, 2020

    If the police are choosing not to act to prevent or solve crimes, what exactly is the purpose of their existence?

    Crime has changed dramatically, but the structure of policing hasn’t evolved with it. I suggest this is an inherent problem, because the eight (more in London) levels of management are always created from internal promotions (based on long service), so there’s never any new blood to bring alternative ideas to the table.

    It also takes a huge level of commitment from those seeking to join their ranks with nine long months of endless interviews just to crawl through to the end of the recruitment process and no guarantee of a job at the end of it. If successful, there’s then two years of training before they’re useful. What on earth is the aim of this overly cumbersome process? Isn’t it the equivalent of “The Knowledge” in the age of the SatNav?

    It’s clear that multi-tasking 20th century policing simply isn’t working in the 21st century and needs to be restructured from top to bottom to redefine and narrow its purpose and achieve results. The areas that don’t fit the new parameters can be split off to (new?) specialist services that probably wouldn’t even require the all-encompassing and expensive police training. No doubt the union will be fizzing with rage!

    1. Fred H
      February 9, 2020

      ‘It also takes a huge level of commitment from those seeking to join their ranks with nine long months of endless interviews just to crawl through to the end of the recruitment process and no guarantee of a job at the end of it. If successful, thereā€™s then two years of training before theyā€™re useful. ‘
      Heard from friends – thats rather like Waitrose!

      1. a-tracy
        February 10, 2020

        I agree Fred I know a young graduate, waiting months for a start date, working in a pub so that he doesn’t commit to another more full-time job, then after about six months he’s getting closer so they now want a full health check, surely this is one of the first things to check.

  30. matthu
    February 9, 2020

    Whose idea was it to incentivise police forces to record hate crimes without having any incentive to investigate them?

    What earthly reason can there be to report a rising trend in hate crimes, when they are mostly self-reported, self-evidenced and almost never prosecuted?

  31. Not im wot rote it
    February 9, 2020

    The whole of The House’s research team 24/7 must have come up with this one
    “…a clear wish to see convicted terrorists kept away from harming the public more”
    I know, let’s debate it for 3 years, and have two General Elections to see if it a valid point.

  32. Bob
    February 9, 2020

    I trust that Philip Schofield will be next in line for a peerage?

    I can remember when the word “gay” meant bright and cheerful.
    I also remember when the word brave meant having courage.

    Can’t wait to see the latest edition of the OED.

    1. jerry
      February 9, 2020

      @Blob; Your comment probably says more about you than it does your target…

  33. Dave Andrews
    February 9, 2020

    I’m sure that contributors here, like me, aren’t engaged in crime, not because of the risk of getting caught by the police, but because we are civilised people on the side of law and order.
    The problem we have in this country isn’t one of not enough police, but too many criminals.
    This isn’t surprising when society bends over backwards to prove that single parent families are just as good as two parent families. I hear those who work in dealing with knife crime saying that behind every knife-wielding youth there’s an absent father.
    If men showed commitment to the mother of their children, and engaged in providing a stable home and a sound role model, there would be much less burden on the state.
    This is the narrative we need.

    1. Narrow Shoulders
      February 9, 2020

      Acceptance of all “ways” comes at a price.

    2. Cheshire Girl
      February 9, 2020

      Its not fashionable to say so, but I agree with every word of your post.

    3. dixie
      February 10, 2020

      Values such as responsibility, duty and honour, the role of the family, even plain honesty have been systematically destroyed by all parties.

      The Freedom Association has eight principles of a free society, all have become devalued to the extent we clearly are no longer a free society.

  34. Iago
    February 9, 2020

    With this government, discussion is pointless.

    1. steve
      February 9, 2020

      Iago

      Exactly !

      Didn’t you know that when we voted the cons into power we gave them divine right to do as the hell they like, without so much as a by your leave ?

      It is pointless discussing anything with them, they don’t see their position as having to do as we, their paymasters say.

      Easier just to give them the bum’s rush at the next election.

      So, smugly snigger for now with your anti motorist policies, conservatives…..we’ll get you, and we don’t care who we vote for to do it…..WE punish YOU if you displease us.

    2. Mark B
      February 9, 2020

      Best post of the day.

  35. John Terence Pilcher
    February 9, 2020

    It is time once more to make policing a more local service. The priorities should be to catch those who commit crime against us and punish them to become a real deterrent. The focus these days seem to be misplaced with much attention being focussed on “hate crimes” and people’s feelings. Let us have around us police we know and police who know where the trouble comes from.
    Classic examples these days is the massive raid on Cliff Richard with no hard evidence and the total ignoring of much intelligence about the paedophile gangs operating up north for many years. This would not have been the case if local control had been effective. Like the “watch committees” of the past.

  36. glen cullen
    February 9, 2020

    With all the resources of the UK we can’t identify 90 immgrants crossing the channel, but we can certainly catch them when landed

  37. BOF
    February 9, 2020

    The way to reduce crime is to crack down on ALL crime, starting with drugs, and enforce the law.

    Drugs are behind most knife crime as well as many other crimes involving theft and violence.
    Drugs and associated crime represents one of the greatest failures of successive governments. I do not go along with the hand wringing pandering virtue signalling of the liberal elite and our MP’s.

    Police investigating ‘hate crime’. Beyond belief and beyond parody.

  38. bigneil(newercomp)
    February 9, 2020

    A recently repeated program showing the NCA going after a country wide drugs gang and showed it was led by a “Afghan refugee” – who was driving around in a Merc. I was born here and worked over 40 years – I’ve never been able to afford a Merc ! – One of the couriers was shown taking holdalls of cash to the bank ( which was sending it abroad). He was said to be living here with his wife and NINE kids – Wonder who has been paying for them. All in – Ā£180 million was shipped out of the UK – and never got back. The gang people got pathetically small sentences – and no doubt be allowed to stay and be a further burden for us to keep.

  39. Narrow Shoulders
    February 9, 2020

    Posting on the internet should be covered by civil law and not criminal law.

    You, Sir John, are meticulous about what you allow published on your website, if the big platforms were similarly concerned and more importantly, liable, then they would police it themselves. The police would not need to be involved and the targets of abuse might be compensated for their pain. That said, do not go onto social media to display your lifestyle and views if you can’t take a few barbs. People see things differently and are more likely to be abrasive when anonymous.

    The top post from Giles makes some interesting points, specialisms being one I feel is worth pursuing.

    I would like to see more local bobbies among their communities. The trouble is that more people require more resources to police them. We are importing cultures that do not share our values and indeed have broken laws to get here. That creates problems those protecting us.

    Criminals can be very clever and the police and intelligence services are generally playing catch up. That brings its own financial and time pressures. While we are reactive there will be a cost.

  40. cosmic
    February 9, 2020

    What on earth is “hate crime”. It seems to be saying nasty things to people on Twitter, which the police waste time tracking down and cautioning people on. We already have laws on defamation and incitement.

    As for knife crime, they might try exemplary sentences, with life meaning life for murder.

    So far this government is making a fair fist of Brexit. Much of the rest of what they are doing, I’d vote not to have; HS2, and bowing to climate alarmism with the ban on gas boilers and petrol cars.

    1. steve
      February 9, 2020

      What on earth is ā€œhate crimeā€

      Has a number of definitions, including that it is a crime to object to being walked all over, and objecting to the way the TV watershed is disregarded, and objecting to being forced to fund those who see our country as a free ride.

      ….to cite three examples.

      1. Southern Man
        February 10, 2020

        Amongst other things, the Police College defines hate crime as unfriendliness perceived by anyone including s third person and not needing evidence.

    2. steve
      February 9, 2020

      cosmic

      “bowing to climate alarmism with the ban on gas boilers and petrol cars.”

      …..this will lock the conservatives out of power, indefinitely.

      1. cosmic
        February 9, 2020

        It’s virtue signalling at its nauseating worst.

        It’s not thought through as to its practicality or impact on the problem it’s supposed to be solving, and the huge costs are glossed over.

  41. a-tracy
    February 9, 2020

    I canā€™t remember the last time I saw an actual policeman or woman in my local County, other than those roaring around in police cars often 3 cars double-manned at a time with blue flashing lights.

    I did see armed police personnel in London at Canary Wharf tube and central.

    A woman I know had a visit from two police officers late on a Saturday night because the ex-copper who lived across from her had complained about her builders parking across her drive on the pavement! Not pcsos, not as it was happening, when there was no point, this whilst people are getting glassed, and attacked in the local main town centre and a young man I know out with his raf chums out of uniform got his jaw dislocated in a nightclub whilst he was walking back from the bar with beer glasses in his hands, an operation and stitches required, and the perpetrator gang was never caught.

    This isnā€™t just about under-resourcing, it is about planning and logistics management, correct training and skills narrowed rather than widening, correct and shared shift patterns and most importantly community service that counts and we want to see people picking up litter, Derby is a complete rubbish tip on all the verges.

  42. Ian @Barkham
    February 9, 2020

    In a country of some 65million people trying to control anything from the center let alone policing is lunacy.

    While we were/are under the control of the EU the UK Parliament was desperate for a role, so they adopted the principle of just being a large local council. I suppose in reality with the EU Commission in control that’s all Central Government was, it had lost purpose.

    For instance Sir John you say national their is concern about knife crime, were do you get that idea? There are parts(just parts) of the country were it is a problem. There are other parts were the problem is sheep rustling, drunkenness’, burglary and so on they are all different, we are all different.

    Now however, our Government is supposed to be Governing the UK, creating direction, being outward looking and negotiating relationships with similar Countries around the World.

    There is no one size fits all. Crime in one area is different to another. Meaning one set of principles and rules wont be perfect in every situation. There is were the localization comes in, local Councils are better placed to respond to local needs in everything that and that includes policing.

    This Government needs to shake of their London centric view of the World, trust the people and trust the local communities. Every time they will do a better job and get better value for money than a centrally controlled bureaucrat.

    What is the Political Class in the UK so afraid of.

  43. Northern Man
    February 9, 2020

    Boris will lose what goodwill he had from the former “red wall” seats by the end of the month at this rate.

    As more and more people get their news from somewhere other than the BBC they are spotting stories like the 33 people caught by the French in Calais being sent back to the UK while we ship anyone in who gets outside French waters.

    Sajid Javid is behaving like Gordon Brown, Boris is giving peerages to Hammond and Clarke.

    To the point of your article, the Police would rather sit behind a desk and look for hurty tweets than go out and find criminals. I would double the Police budget (funded by shutting down our Foreign Aid budget for a minimum five-year period), scrap the concept of a “hate crime” and focus on local policing and on-line policing for things like grooming and fraud only.

    I think that what we need is a Conservative Party that lives up to its name.

    1. Fred H
      February 9, 2020

      I for one no longer know what it stands for. Perhaps Sir John could help explain.

  44. Christine
    February 9, 2020

    I think the tone of the replies you are receiving tells you how the British people are feeling about the performance of your Government. We put our trust in Boris but he seems not to have listened and continues with the same mad policies as his predecessor. I feel very let down. Maybe you can pass on our concerns.

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      February 9, 2020

      Christine. Never a truer word spoken. Everyone I speak to who are life time Tory voters have had enough. We all thought things would return to real Conservatism with sensible policies brought in to encourage hard work and a great future for this country now we are ‘out’ of the EU. It seems to me that ministers are doing anything but this. All I can see is a future where we will pay more for less, pay to house more and more illegal immigrants now they know how easy it is to cross the channel (how many times have I heard it’s the busiest and hardest to cross in the world?), pay more for people who won’t get off their backsides and work because benefits are so lucrative, pay more tax to drive, pay taxes to eat (the next thing will be taxes on meat and dairy) taxes to pay to live in our homes, taxes to have our rubbish weighed and ordered to get rid of our gas boilers and our cars, more taxes on pensions, the list is endless. Meanwhile we send money out like it’s going out of fashion for foreign aid and spend shed loads on legal aid for illegal immigrants. You couldn’t make it up. The whole country is going to the dogs and nobody but Joe Bloggs can see it. The rich and the elite are preaching about global warming and telling the minions they have to cut back while people like the Rooney’s etc are jetting off the Caribbean at the drop of a hat, living in their big mansions, eating the best food and driving around in their enormous cars. There will be an uprising eventually when the penny drops that we have been taken for fools and it can’t come too soon.

    2. glen cullen
      February 10, 2020

      agree with every word…..same old same old

  45. wiggiatlarge
    February 9, 2020

    As with so many others the choice of Corbyn gave Boris the keys to No10, very few had real faith in a two party system that has failed the country for decades and so it has come to pass.

    Even Brexit itself is not yet anywhere near that which most voted for the current state is an ersatz May deal, nothing so far gives great hope for the future as it should by now after all nearly fours on we should have a definitive agenda.

    Everything else so far is a total disappointment to fall in line with the climate scam that will if carried through as planned ensure this country and the people are in penury, energy twice what it is now, boilers ripped out at end of life to be replaced at enormous expense with not just heat exchangers but whole new heating systems.
    Nowhere near enough energy to power all the electric cars, twice the current output is required and the National Grid has the figures.
    Current average sustainable energy subsidies around an average of Ā£190 per annum, the proposed extra windmills will quadruple that for all users and the horrendous maintenance charges for offshore wind have not even been included yet, Boris disappointment ! a lot more than that.

    1. Stred
      February 10, 2020

      Including heating, industry and transport electrification, generation will have to triple mot double. They are planning to have 59% generating capacity by renewables which will be almost all by offshore wind. All of this will need backup for a two week period at maximum demand in the middle of winter with storage only able to provide short periods of supply. All of this when, according to the Paris agreement it will make no difference to global CO2.

  46. Lester Beedell
    February 9, 2020

    I too am desperately disappointed by the government, nothing appears to have changed, Hate Crime…. my suggestion is to grow up. Sticks and Stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me, when I was young if a passenger stuck their out of a carriage window and was killed it was Bad Luck but now the train operating company is fined a Ā£million for the passengerā€™s stupidity, everyone expects to be wrapped in cotton wool, this is encouraged by the nanny state
    Enough is enough

    1. Bryan Harris
      February 9, 2020

      It’s the insane politically correct liberal society we’ve had imposed upon us… Just a shame that so many soak i9t all up.

      Boris needs to get a wider group of advisors

  47. Tad Davison
    February 9, 2020

    Zero tolerance, neighborhood policing with officers in full view, and adequate deterrent sentences. It’s not difficult really, although Mrs May found it impossible to grapple with.

    Lets hope Boris us in listening mode, and takes on board what the electorate want, rather than the trenchant views if the now discredited and inappropriately named ‘liberal intelligentsia’.

    1. Tad Davison
      February 9, 2020

      *is and *of. Lesson – never attempt to post whilst the missus is driving!

  48. bill brown
    February 9, 2020

    Sir JR

    Solving crime is of course important and locking up terrorists.

    However, we have as many in prison as France Italy and Germany put together in a prison system lacking experienced prison officers and too many re-offending prisoners
    As longas the prison service and social services are not able to assist the re-offending prisoners, locking prisoners up for longer will only postpone a very serious problem.

  49. Man of Kent
    February 9, 2020

    It is extraordinary that cannabis or other drugs are an element in so many crimes .

    The damage to many who indulge is lifelong , the nut cases like the Streatham knife man for instance but there are many others ,
    Yet locally we have County Lines drug pushers operating in known areas but the police are not interested .
    The excuse , ‘we want to get Mr Big up the line ‘.
    But how many lives are being permanently damaged in the meantime ?

    1. Lifelogic
      February 9, 2020

      They always have an excuse to do nothing in my experience.

  50. Richard1
    February 9, 2020

    The public by a large majority are way to the right of most MPs and just about all of the media on crime. There are plenty of societies with low levels of crime where itā€™s safe to walk about. New York is a good example. There are big problems in the US in many areas for sure, including a high murder rate. But in much of the country the risk of burglary mugging knife crime etc is much lower than we now have. Thatā€™s because the law is enforced. The same is of course true of societies like South Korea Japan and Singapore. They also enforce drug laws which we donā€™t & drugs are behind much crime.

    So I suggest stop wasting police time on people making un-PC remarks on social media and start rigorous enforcement of the law with no tolerance of crime and focus on crimes that people really care about such as knife crime burglary mugging etc.

  51. William Long
    February 9, 2020

    We need a police force we can see and get access to instead of all the public counters at police staions being closed. They put a telephone by what used to be the door but it is very rarely answered. We never see a policeman in the village. No notice is taken of double yellow lines and people park right up to the turning point of road junctions, making them very difficult to navigate safely. Many would agree that this is less important than dealing with burglaries, and that might be an acceptable attitude if there was any likelyhood that burglaries would be dealt with.
    In a country area such as this there is just no policing. Forget so called ‘Hate crime’ and deal with the basics.
    I cannot go without expressing horror at the article about proposed taxation in the Sunday Telegraph. Clearly the Treasury are doing their best to impose their Corbynbite agenda on the Conservatives; I wish I had more confidence that Mr Javid and Boris will not fall for it. Can we have your assurance that you would not vote for it?

  52. Graham Wheatley
    February 9, 2020

    How’s this for an absurdity? – ….We are letting terrorists and murderers go free before the end of their sentences and then jailing people for not paying the Brussels Fraudcasting Corporation’s Propaganda Tax.

    1. Lifelogic
      February 9, 2020

      Terrorists whom the authorities clearly knew were highly likely to be extremely dangerous (or they would not have had been kept under constant vert expensive surveillance). Thank goodness they only stabbed three people and did not shoot hundreds or explode a bomb in a childrenā€™s pop concert!

    2. DOMINIC
      February 9, 2020

      Yes, it stinks. A morally bankrupt nation in which the political class have deliberately crushed the moral spirit of its people by replacing personal values with a political dynamic

      The BBC is now off the scale in its promotion of Anglophobia and detestation of the indigenous population using Britain’s colonial past to invoke shame and guilt. And what does the Tory government do? It assists them by doing, NOTHING

      Tory MPs need to stop apologising for deporting criminals and doing the right thing.

  53. Ian
    February 9, 2020

    Bo Jo, oh dear,
    Spend spend, I did like the idea of 10 Free Ports I still do not like the HS 2.
    What the Nation needs is Tax Back, not this continuation of Hammond and. Carny.
    Young people need to have a chance to get on, be able to buy a house over time, perhaps over a longer time pay back.
    There parents might like to buy a car?
    Then there is this race to go green, by way of of bankruptcy for the Nation.
    Sorry but look at the waste, better still look at this story about c02 , a lot of people are very sceptical when we hear the other side, not the BBC versions.
    I am disappointed with Boy Wonder, he should give up caffeine, stop trying to do everything by Tuesday.
    Get rid of his advisors , no more Green scary stories.
    We have gas , anyone with sence anywhere would do that.
    Our manufactures are paying to much for energy and so is everyone else, less money to spend on other things in the High Street.

  54. formula57
    February 9, 2020

    Why can we not expect the police to tackle all crime?

    The recent remarks by H.M. Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr are correct, faith is being lost and a corrosive relationship exists with a public too aware it is being failed.

    The courts system now works badly and with long delays, hampering police efforts to secure convictions. Being a criminal today is a low-risk occupation, alas.

  55. Dunc.
    February 9, 2020

    The police lost their way with the end of Bobbies on the beat and the recruitment of graduates and not big burly men to intimidate criminals.
    Policing should be about deference, and its been proved it works.
    Having some articulate officer offer you platitudes and a crime number is no substitute for the criminal avoiding your area due to regular patrols.

    1. glen cullen
      February 10, 2020

      fully agree especially about police officer needing a degree

  56. Dunc.
    February 9, 2020

    That should have read deterrence not deference.

  57. David Paine
    February 9, 2020

    The invention of “Hate Crime” is a complete nonsense. Libel and slander are civil matters and should remain so. As for electronic communication, we each have a choice whether or not we respond to posts, ignore them, stop following someone, or block them. If someone makes a threat that a “reasonable” person believes could be carried out, that should be a crime, not a “Hate Crime” but a crime of threatening behaviour irrespective of who or what the victim is. Another test from saner times in the past was whether or not someone’s actions or behaviour constituted or could cause a breach of the peace. The loony left thrives on creating “victims” who they then seek to recruit as ballot fodder, leaving our police running round in circles trying to sooth hurt feelings; let’s not emulate the left.
    Our top priority should be to protect the public and their homes & property from terrorism and violence. A zero tolerance to violence and robbery would be welcome.
    Our second priority should be to stamp on fraud. More could be done by BT for example to stop nuisance calls from scammers and disconnect numbers that repeat the offence.

  58. KEITH H from Leeds
    February 9, 2020

    The first requirement is the broken windows policy, where by stopping small crimes you stop bigger ones, as pursued in New York with great success in the nineties. The second requirement is to make prison much tougher, no TVs, early mornings, hard physical work & that way you can give shorter sentences. The third requirement is to ensure prisoners are released with a job to go to, even if it means picking up rubbish or sorting rubbish at tips. Hard work but the discipline of working & also encouraging to look for a better job, rather than allowing them to drift back into crime. The fourth requirement is to define the web giants as publishing companies so the laws of libel apply & require every one to publish their name & first part of their postal code when posting on line. That would get rid of 95% of the unpleasant comment people make because they know the internet company can identify them to the police. The fifth requirement is to differentiate between serious crimes involving a knife or other weapon where a mandatory 20 year sentence should apply, Terrorist who should also face long sentences & minor crimes for which people do not need to be sent to prison, at least for a first offence. Finally crime should carry an increasing tariff so the more crimes committed the longer the sentence.

    1. Robert mcdonald
      February 9, 2020

      I do agree with the principle that prison cannot be an easy ride. Work and few privileges, but the key has to be giving inmates an opportunity for a vocation and a job upon release, a real job.

  59. dixie
    February 9, 2020

    The role and authority of the family has been usurped and devalued, the state has sought to replace God and the police’s role is to keep the law abiding in line. The mildest of transgressions such as non payment of BBC fee or offence taken on twitter is punished yet government and the law turn blind eyes to rapists, appalling acts by members of the establishment and let murderers, terrorists go free free.

    Do you really thing the issue is relative priorities between policing traffic offences or burglaries.

  60. agricola
    February 9, 2020

    Are you deliberately censoring opinion, if so why invite it.

  61. Fedupsoutherner
    February 9, 2020

    Not many people would be driving to work in their electric cars tomorrow if we had all got rid of our petrol and diesel cars due to all the power outtages.

  62. Simple
    February 9, 2020

    Three strikes and you’re out- just send them to Devils Islands- for five years- for ten years- for fifteen years or thirty years whatever is appropiate. No time wasting allowed. No appeals allowed

  63. lojolondon
    February 10, 2020

    Dear John, I believe in the policy of walking the beat, visible policing, and very low tolerance. I believe that ALL policemen should be managed by their local stations, with no special ‘news-worthy’ campaigns mandated from the centre. I believe that ‘hate crime’ and ‘thought crime’ etc are total garbage and not one minute should be spent on managing and restricting citizen’s freedom of speech. There should be 100% effort put into every instance of gang-violence, drug-dealing, and armed crimes like knife crime. Long jail sentences should be mandatory when an innocent person gets hurt, and prisons should be far, far less ‘nurturing’, and should be truly horrible places where people, once they leave, swear never to return.

  64. John Hatfield
    February 10, 2020

    Rarely do you see a policeman outside his car nowadays. It is said, with or without evidence, that street crime has increased since police stopped foot patrols. The solution to that is clear.

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