What Prime Minister Tony Blair said about disorder at his recent monthly press conference.
A few years ago when I began the debate on anti-social behaviour, there were some who thought it gimmicky, even eccentric. The anti-social behaviour measures were opposed vigorously by many in the House of Commons, and fought very hard against in the House of Lords. These measures were introduced, and where implemented have had a real impact. But in reality they were only ever a part of a much bigger picture which was painted for me time and again during the course of the election campaign by members of the public.
People like a society that is less deferential, they want a society free from old prejudices, but a loss of deference is very different to a loss of respect for other people. A society without prejudice should not be one without rules. People are rightly fed up with street corner and shopping centre thugs, yobbish behaviour, sometimes from children as young as 10 or 11, whose parents should be looking after them, of Friday and Saturday night binge drinking that makes our town centres no-go areas for respectable citizens, of the low level graffiti, vandalism and disorder that is the work of a very small minority, it is true, but makes the law abiding majority afraid and angry.
I have no nostalgia for any by-gone era, so much of society has changed for the better, and it is good that people are free to express their views, lead their personal lives in the way they want to, are less hidebound by old thinking. But some things should endure, and one is respect towards other people. That is a modern yearning as much as a traditional one. Some of the causes of this may be very long term, some of the solutions difficult. I am determined to make this a central piece however of our third term agenda.
… I am happy to go back and look at further measures on binge drinking, on anti-social behaviour, on the issue to do with carrying knives, on graffiti, vandalism, every single aspect of this. I want the police to have the powers that they want, I want a visible uniform presence out on the street, and I want to send a very clear signal from parliament, not just from government, but from parliament, that this type of disrespect and yobbish behaviour is not going to be tolerated by people any more.
