 Mark Wall
Publisher
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| What do you want from your police?
This is indeed a complex issue. After reading through the “Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime” report by Louse Casey (June 2008) who headed a Cabinet Office review of the criminal justice system, commissioned by the prime minister, Gordon Brown I am as confused as ever.
At its foundation the community must not only be safe it must feel safe. Yet for all the efforts to control and curb crime over the past years, it would seem that we live in a time where the risk of being a victim of crime in some form is higher than ever.
Too often the public don’t believe that their voice is heard, don’t believe wrong-doers face adequate consequences for the crimes they commit, don’t believe they are told enough about what happens in the system and, perhaps because of this, they don’t believe that crime has fallen when they are told so.
Their concerns about crime are higher than on other issues like health, education or housing – and how they feel about crime detrimentally affects their daily lives and their willingness to help tackle crime. (LC June 2008)
Ms Casey’s forward to the report concludes;
Most of all I would urge policy makers, professionals, lobby groups and law makers to take note of one thing – the public are not daft. They know what’s wrong, they know what’s right, and they know what they want on crime and justice. And it’s time action was taken on their terms.
Now I could not agree with Ms Casey more. I have always considered myself ready to stand up for what is right and to play an active role in the community. However I have come to believe that to really tackle crime we must have a total commitment of the whole community. This seems to be a bridge too far. We have lost confidence in the police, local government, the justice system and central government to act on local crime and bring criminals to an effective justice. We feel alone.
I believe that there needs to be a change in the focus of the justice system. The victims and law abiding citizens should be considered first and foremost. All action taken by any part of the system from the police to the courts should take account of those harmed or disadvantaged by crime before even considering, for a second, the rights of the criminal. I believe that law breakers, particularly of violent and anti-social crime gave up their rights when they decided to commit the crime. That is not to say we would treat the inhumanely, but it does mean that they should pay back society where possible and where that is not an option then the punishment should be such that they would never consider such an act again.
It would be impossible to summarize the 114 page “Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime” document in one short editorial. Do take the time to have a read through it. You may not agree with it, but it does help you stop and think.
It would be nice to live in a safer Eltham. Can we make it so?
KEY FACTS from the REVIEW
55% of the public say crime is the most
important issue facing Britain today.
Only 33% of the public are confident
that the Criminal Justice System meets
the needs of victims, but 79% agree it
respects the rights of offenders.
73% of the public say that hearing
about someone being a victim of crime
in their local area affects their feelings
of safety and makes them cautious,
angry and sad.
91% of the public think the basic
approaches and standards of service
delivered by the police should be the
same wherever they live.
Better parenting is the top thing (58%)
the public say would do most to reduce
crime and 58% of the public think that
Friday night is the most important time
for youth facilities to be available.
90% of respondents to the review
think the public are not told enough
about what happens to those who have
committed crime.
When asked what is the most important
issue facing Britain on crime, the top
answer from the public (29%) is that
sentences are too lenient.
90% of the public agree that
community punishments for crime
should involve some form of payback to
the community.
When asked who they would trust as
a source for national statistics on crime,
the top answer from the public (48%)
was an independent watchdog.
75% of the public are prepared to play
an active role in tackling crime.
ARE YOU GETTING YOUR SPECIAL OFFERS FROM ELTHAM TRADERS?
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