Promises Promises
When former Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed in September, 2002, his party’s mandate to be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime, his words were undoubtedly music to both the electorate and the media’s ears. However, Mr. Blair’s statements of promise were among many which were similarly grandiose, indulgent and, sadly, remain unfulfilled. In this particular respect, Mr. Blair failed to do what he said he was going to do. For any politician, doing what you say you’re going to do is crucial if public trust and faith is to be preserved, if indeed public faith and trust is a consideration, that is.
Without doubt, Mr. Blair’s statement of intention has been mocked several times over whilst crime remains rampant. On my part, I wish to appeal to the British public that no government or political party can claim to want to get tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime without making a similar statement of intention to provide a more efficient and well resourced national police force to make good such assertions. Currently, our police force is neither efficient nor well resourced and the criminal justice system as a whole is struggling to be even remotely tough on crime. The current delay in bringing prosecutions to trial and recent considerations regarding alternatives to prison bear this out and reveal the extent of the criminal justice conundrum. No government which has failed to significantly increase officer numbers whilst restricting their operational efficiency by burdening them with excessive bureaucracy and targets can achieve such ambitions. It is a lack of resources and the burden of bureaucracy and targets which prevents our police officers from getting tough on crime at its earliest juncture by reducing the opportunity for it to take place. Moreover, it is the ineffective system of policing which requires change, not the public’s reasonable expectations of police officers.
So, regardless of whether Mr. Blair lied unashamedly or willfully misled, we listened. Hindsight will hopefully ensure that we don’t believe the same thing twice. Knee-jerk legislation, reviews, campaigns and initiatives will be of limited effect without their efficient implimentation by sufficient resources. Recent changes in the law regarding knife-crime and using a mobile phone whilst driving have demonstrated how ineffectual such changes are without the means with which to enforce them. The future promise of toughness on crime and the causes of it is not to be believed in the absence of a similar commitment to police reform. Without indulging him overly, Mr. Blair’s time in office can only be regarded as a legacy of unfulfilled promises by doing what he said he wouldn’t do and not doing what he said he would.
If you care to be disappointed all over again, please click on the link below.
Johnno
I couldn’t agree more!
Due to ongoing and persistent anti social behaviour by residents of my street, I have regularly had to report to my local Council, males in their late teens / early twenties, repeated incidents of football games taking place on the grassed areas adjacent to and opposite our property. There is a “no Ball Games” sign posted and has been there for years, but my key complaint to the Council has been that when these youths play football, my car (which is parked on the front of our property) is repeatedly hit, as are others parked on the public highway. If the ball goes into someone’s backgarden, the youths feel it is their right to have it returned immediately, and if you choose to tell them to come back at a later date to collect it, you’re subjected to verbal abuse and intimidation.
I have questioned the Council on their “No Ball Games” signs, especially in view of the fact the city in which I live comes under the Government’s RESPECT agenda.
I have been told that the signs are only courtesy signs, designed to encourage the youths to utilise the local park (which has been kitted out with lots of sports equipment for their use). There is no byelaw reinforcing the “No Ball Games” sign, so therefore the Council are unable to enforce it either. Despite the games of football repeatedly spilling over across the grass verges and pavements into the road (on one occasion a car had to perform an emergency stop to avoid a high kicked ball bouncing onto their vehicle), the Council have spoken with the Police, and they have advised that it wouldn’t be in “the public’s interest” to pursue it under Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980, as the fine stated on the Government’s RESPECT website of £10 wouldn’t be cost effective.
Yet again, Blair’s Government has passed legislation which is a knee jerk reaction and completely useless. The policy of this Government seems to have been “let’s be seen to be doing something, when in reality it has no power at all”.
We, as citizens of this country, need a complete restructuring of our legal, court and Policing systems as quickly as possible, as we are galloping towards anarchy. The victims of crime are being penalised and those committing crimes are laughing their backsides off.
It all starts with the minor stuff, like dropping litter and having no respect for other people’s property, then escalates towards “serious” crime very quickly……..some one save us!
I admire your work,can you teach me how to write such a nice article
I have a problem with Ferrel youths playing football in my street.I have challenged them on many occasion and sometimes fear becoming another Gary Newlove.You get sick of the balls banging on your fences and windows.I have a park less than a quarter of a mile away but no they have to play in the street.The way I see it is this is the start of anti social behavior.They know the Police will do nothing and so go up a notch to harass law abiding citizens.Thanks to so many do gooders giving kids rights the country is in the mess it is.What about my right to peace in my older years.