Targeting the criminal to
stop the crime: Government launches major new vision on security,
crime and justice
HOME OFFICE News
Release (057/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 27 March 2007
Tackling the
offender and not just the offence is at the heart of a visionary
strategy issued today which outlines ambitious policies for
meeting the ever changing challenge of protecting the public. The
detailed policy document reveals the Government's proposals
and ideas for confronting crime and criminals over the next 10 years.
The wide-ranging report looks at how new technology, powers,
service structures and ways of fighting offending will keep pace
with an ever changing society. It aims to ensure victims and
communities feel more secure while justice is effectively and
efficiently done and seen to be done.
Building on Progress: Security, Crime and Justice looks at three themes:
* Prevention of crime. Proposals look at identifying and
intervening with at-risk children as early as possible, targeting
and gripping the most prolific offenders, and designing out crime.
* Detection and enforcement. The need to ensure the police,
courts and CPS can punish crimes and enforce sentences as rapidly
as possible and that they have all the powers they need to seize
criminal assets and punish breach of probation orders.
* Reforming the criminal justice system. Making it work for the
law abiding citizen by ensuring it is responsive to local people.
This includes involving the best service providers for the job and
proposes expanding the role of the voluntary sector while giving
well paid, properly supported and flexible workforces all the
powers they need to do the job.
These themes focus on tackling offenders across the criminal
justice system; from the police on the street, through to the
courts, prison and probation systems.
Among the measures being announced today the Government will
undertake a review of the Police Service led by Sir Ronnie
Flanagan, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary.
Home Secretary John Reid said:
"Security, crime and justice are the issues that most
concern the public. It is important we continue to build on past
successes in this area with new ideas that will lead to a safer society.
"Crime is down by 35 percent since 1997 but there is no room
for complacency. We know that criminals will continue to find new
ways of breaking our laws and attempting to avoid justice, we need
to be one step ahead ensuring that the most serious and persistent
offenders are dealt with swiftly and efficiently."
The prolific offender case management programme will be expanded
to tackle the persistent offenders responsible for a
disproportionately large number of crimes - 5,000 offenders are
responsible for one crime in ten.
Tough new community punishments are also proposed with
communities able to have their say on how offenders should
contribute to society. Asset recovery is critical to the fight
against all crime and is one of the Government's top
priorities for law enforcement. The Government has set an
ambitious new target with the aim of doubling the amount seized to
£250 million by 2009-10. To help achieve this 'lifestyle
property' will be added to asset recovery laws.
Notes to editors:
1. Building on Progress: Security, Crime and Justice looks at
three themes. The report is available in full at http://www.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
and http://www.number10.gov.uk
2. The review of the Police service will look into four key issues:
- Reducing bureaucracy and promote better business processes;
- Sustaining the excellent progress that has been made on
neighbourhood policing;
- Ensuring that the public are driving local policing priorities
and improve local involvement and accountability and;
- Managing resources effectively to deliver on the tough
challenges of the coming years.