Tackling Crime and Vandalism: Home Secretary Outlines Government Plans
07 Dec 2004
One of the new measures would make the parents of young vandals pay compensation to their victims. The parents of children under 10 who deliberately damage or take property would be forced to pay up to £5,000 compensation to their victims. This would plug a loophole in the law which allows parents to avoid liability for deliberate damage or loss caused by a child if under 10.
The Home Secretary also announced his intention to give police community support officers (CSOs) powers to search for alcohol and tobacco and to deal with drug related anti-social behaviour and new police powers to seize uninsured vehicles. It is estimated that around one in 20 motorists drive without insurance, often driving vehicles which are untaxed and unsafe and used for criminal activity.
In addition, the Bill sets out proposals to give better protection to the small number of witnesses who face a serious or life-threatening risk to their safety, by improving co-operation with public and private sector bodies, such as housing agencies and banks, to make witness protection programmes work more effectively.
Mr Blunkett said:
"Tackling crime and building safer communities is a top priority for the Government and is at the very heart of its legislative agenda. The Serious Organised Crime and PoliceBill is key to that work. It sets out radical plans to tackle organised crime, including the creation of a new agency, and to modernise police powers.
"Crime is down and the chance of being a victim of crime is lower than in 20 years. But we are not complacent and the Government is continuing to drive down crime at all levels – from the international crime gangs who pollute our communities with drugs and crime, to the thuggish and anti-social behaviour that turns neighbourhoods into no-go areas.
"Key to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is intervening at an early stage, encouraging parents to take their responsibilities seriously, keeping their children away from a life of crime. My plan is to make the parents of young vandals compensate their victims. This will not criminalise the child – no criminal sanctions are involved – but will encourage young thugs and their parents to learn that actions have consequences and appreciate the impact on victims.
"CSOs complement the role of police officers, providing a visible presence on the streets and boosting their ability to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. It is important that CSOs have the powers they need to deal with the situations they routinely come across. Giving them powers to search for alcohol and tobacco and deal with drug-related anti-social behaviour will make them even more effective in tackling low-level crime and anti-social behaviour, freeing up police officers to deal with more serious crime.
"Driving without insurance is a serious criminal offence, as well as adding around £30 a year to the premiums of honest motorists. We are determined to stamp it out and giving police officers powers to seize uninsured vehicles on-the-spot will help do that.
"Along with record police numbers, backed up by CSOs and the Government's ongoing police reform programme, the Serious Organised Crime and PoliceBill would ensure that we have the law enforcement capability to tackle the crime challenges of the 21st century."
The Home Secretary also clarified the measures which would prohibit individuals stirring up hatred against people because of their religious beliefs.
Mr Blunkett said:
"I have issued a statement today to Parliament giving reassurances to people and making it absolutely clear that, in introducing this measure, criticisms of religion would not be ruled out and nor would cracking religious jokes. The Government is committed to the right to legitimate freedom of speech, but the provisions in the Bill aim to combat the activities of extremists who stir up hatred against groups targeted because of their religious beliefs, as well as those targeted on racial grounds. All hatred has a detrimental effect on individual victims and society as a whole. The measures we are introducing build on protection already afforded by the incitement to racial hatred offences."