Britain is safer with Labour. Today, the chance of being a victim of crime is at its lowest level since 1981. Due to Labour’s policies crime is down, and thanks to our investment police officer numbers are at a historic high.
Only Labour has the policies to address the challenges of the future. We recognise that new challenges need new and different approaches. We are giving police and communities new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour; investing in neighbourhood policing; modernising our criminal justice system; and taking measures to combat terrorism.
Key Achievements
- Since 1997 overall crime is down 39 per cent (over 5 million fewer crimes); Domestic burglary is down 55 per cent; Vehicle related crime is down 57 per cent; Violent crime is down 40 per cent.
- Police numbers up by more than 14,000 since 1997, alongside more than 15,000 Community Support Officers
- The risk of becoming a victim of crime is at historically low levels, down from its peak in 1995
- During the past decade more than 20,000 prison places have been provided due to more offenders being brought to justice, including 60 per cent more violent and dangerous offenders, and being sentenced for longer
- In 2007, over 40,000 offenders entered education, training or employment; we have almost trebled spending on offender learning since 2001; and we have increased investment in drug treatment in prisons by 1,008 per cent since 1996/7.
Winning the fight for Britain's future:
- Every community has its own dedicated neighbourhood police team, easily contactable by the people who live in that community and working with them to agree local priorities and deal with people’s concerns.
- This year our ambition is to have reduced violent crime, theft and burglary so that the average chance of being a victim of crime will be the lowest in nearly 30 years.
- Tackling violent crime, including: tougher sentences for knife crime; new controls on deactivated firearms; portable weapon scanners for the police; targeted action to tackle gang crime; and education to turn young people away from crime
- A justice system that works for the public, punishes the guilty and offers a realistic prospect of rehabilitation for the contrite. Tough and effective sentences for the guilty and action to tackle re-offending, focussing on education and work
- We are fully committed to providing a net further 15,000 prison places by 2014 through the largest ever prison-building programme (7,000 of which will be provided by 2010)