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 George Hollingbery on Crime
The overall level of crime in our society is gradually falling, something that is broadly reflected across most of the western world.
That is not to say that there aren’t categories of crime where rates are increasing nor that we can afford to be in the least complacent. I believe that there are several strands we need to pursue if we are to continue to enjoy falling levels of crime.
First we need much greater local accountability of policing and I believe this means we should consider much greater democratic involvement. My personal preference is for locally elected Chief Constables but there are a number of ways of skinning that particular cat.
Second it is a truism that dangerous individuals are no menace to general society if in prison. For those offenders who have shown themselves to be beyond the pale, I believe longer sentences are appropriate.
Third I believe there is a converse argument that we must grasp if we are to make further progress. The vast majority of offenders are not habituated criminals incapable of reform and yet 80% of them re-offend. Why? The prisons they are put in and the manner in which they are treated only serve to further marginalise them. The very process of imprisonment makes it more likely they will re-offend.
Some will argue that prison should be tough and unpleasant. Crime should be punished and incarceration should not be an easy ride.
My retort is that I agree that society has a right to retribution but that it is wholly impractical for this to be its only focus.
In short, we need to build more prisons, treat prisoners like human beings, make them confront their pasts and deal with the consequences, educate them better so they have some way of going straight when they emerge and deal with the drugs and gang culture (both being a direct result of the appalling conditions that we keep our prisoners in). If we can make progress with this we all have a chance of benefitting from prison.
More on the Conservative Party's thoughts on Crime can be found here. |
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| | B A Matthews (Guest) | 12/04/2010 19:50 | | Rehabilitation of offenders will be far more effective following PUNISHMENT. The reason that 80% of offenders reoffend is because prison is no longer either a stigma or a deterrent. Custodial sentences need to be a severe deprivation of normal lifestyle priveleges.
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