Why Labour?
The tough action Labour has taken to cut crime and tackle anti-social behaviour and the extra beat policing we have introduced are having results. Since 1997, overall crime has fallen by over a third, violent crime is down by 41 per cent and we have the lowest murder rate for 20 years. But there are still areas where problems remain and we recognise that anti-social behaviour is of particular concern to people. We believe that anti-social behaviour must be tackled – not tolerated, which is why we are insisting on police and local authorities using every one of the wide ranging tools and powers available to them. Labour is determined to continue to bear down on crime and will take tough, targeted action against knife, gun and gang crime.
We are determined to tackle fear of crime as well as crime itself, with a bold approach to policing and justice giving local communities a greater say over local priorities and new guarantees on police response times and a pledge that your neighbourhood policing team spends at least 80 per cent of its time on the beat in your community. We will make sure that those who commit crimes do not go unpunished, ensure tough sentences for those who repeatedly break the law, and introduce tough new sanctions for those who make the lives of others a misery.
Key Achievements
- Since 1997 overall crime is down 36 per cent (over 6 million fewer crimes); domestic burglary is down 54 per cent; vehicle-related crime is down 57 per cent; violent crime is down 41 per cent.
- Police numbers up by nearly 17,000 since 1997, alongside more than 16,000 Community Support Officers.
- Neighbourhood policing is now rolled out nationally – with more than 3,600 Neighbourhood Policing Teams working to improve public satisfaction and confidence by working to local people’s priorities.
- Introduction of Community Payback so that justice is seen to be done – last year over 62,000 offenders completed Community Payback and over eight million hours of work were undertaken in local communities. This work was valued at over £48 million (if paid at the minimum wage).
- 27,000 additional prison places have been provided since 1997; and more offenders are being brought to justice – 75 per cent more violent and dangerous criminals are now locked up and for longer.
A future fair for all
- A Policing Pledge making clear what the public can expect from the police with new guarantees on response times; local crime information; monthly public meetings to set local priorities; and a pledge that your local neighbourhood team will spend at least 80 per cent of its time on the beat in your neighbourhood.
- We will increase the number of families supported by Family Intervention Projects, giving intensive hard-edged support to those families that need it, to tackle problems at their root and save money
- We will give local authorities the power to ban 24 hour drinking throughout a community in the interests of local people, combined with a vigorous crackdown on alcohol-related disorder.
- We will continue to utilise the best technology in the fight against crime; giving people more of a say over where CCTV is used in their area and protecting the public by ensuring the right people are on our DNA database
- A National Victims’ Service guaranteeing all victims of crime and anti-social behaviour referred by the police more clear, comprehensive and dedicated support, for the first time available seven days a week
- Continuing to introduce tough and effective sentences for the guilty alongside action to tackle re-offending, focussing on education and work and ending the early release scheme through provision of new prison places as part of the largest ever building programme.
- Giving local people more of a say in how offenders on Community Payback schemes repay the community for their crimes and enable people in every area to vote online for which local community projects they wish to see worked on to increase confidence in justice being done