(I would include myself in that – but no more!). In fact, Simon Reed from the Police Federation couldn’t believe how little that we make of our record and, to be frank, neither can I.
During the general election campaign itself, and subsequently, we have tended to focus our attention on the threat by the Tory-led coaliton to the number of police and PCSOs that have been working in communities across the country due to our commitment to crime reduction. But we rarely equate those numbers, and the significant additional investment, to the incredible reduction in crime levels. Crime fell by 40 per cent under the last Labour government, having risen for decades prior. The Tories who have always cultivated the image of the party of law and order – irrespective of the fact that they did little to reduce crime rates – can no longer claim that crown. For it is us who have the policies, the commitment and the record for being the real party of law and order.
Our shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper opened the debate with an overview of exactly why the Tories no longer deserve their reputation in terms of crime and justice. And it wasn’t just because of the appalling comments of Ken Clarke. A year into this Tory-led coalition we are yet to hear one significant speech from the prime minister on law and order and we are yet to learn of any new initiatives (other than cutting police budgets by 20 per cent) from the home secretary in terms of how she intends to tackle crime. Their policy in this area, as in so many others, is driven by the ideological desire to cut the deficit irrespective of the damage that cutting too hard and to quickly will cause. I am not a ‘deficit denier’ and acknowledge that we would have had to cut budgets by 12 per cent by the end of this parliament, but by frontloading their cuts and looking for a 20 per cent reduction the damage that this will do, in my opinion, will be incalculable.
It was, therefore, truly heartening to hear both Yvette Cooper and Hazel Blears celebrate our record. As Hazel said, this is one area where we simply can’t afford to be on the wrong side of the debate. Increased crime, especially antisocial behaviour affects our voters, our communities and our estates disproportionately to those in wealthier areas. Given recent comments from the justice secretary and the infamous Roger Helmer, the focus of the Labour party must be on protecting and supporting victims and demanding justice.
As a total aside, I was delighted that the debate on one of the most important political issues of the day (and typically one of the most macho) was led by two women, who genuinely ‘get’ the challenges and are up for the fight. Long may it continue!