Day two of our enthusiastic general election coverage, focusing on what the political parties have to say about crime and related subjects of interest to private security people.
Conservatives propose young hooligans losing their right to drive under what the Tories call a crackdown on yob behaviour.
And the parents of young people who persistently breach their anti-social behaviour orders will find themselves subject to supervision – and could even be stripped of their housing benefit payments and forced to leave their neighbourhoods.
The party’s stand on yob families was unveiled by Conservative Leader Michael Howard, as campaigning for the May 5 general election began proper.
Dismissing Tony Blair’s pledge to be tough on crime and the causes of crime as "all talk", Mr Howard said crime and disorder was now making life a misery for millions of hard working families right across Britain. "The decline of individual responsibility, the proliferation of so-called ‘human rights’, and Mr. Blair’s failure to draw a distinction between right and wrong has left Britain unable to get a grip on rising crime and disorder," he said.
Promising that an incoming Conservative government will get a grip on what he called the ‘crisis’, and restore respect for the law, people, and property, the Opposition Leader said he would target the very small minority of families who refuse to play by the rules, who think they are above the law, and who fail to take responsibility for their children.
He said: "In too many communities, this tiny minority is making the majority’s life a misery.
So if you’re thinking what I’m thinking – it’s time to hold these parents to account and get their children to behave properly. We’ve had eight years of Mr Blair pussy footing around this issue – eight years of spin. It’s time for action." Suggesting a network of special Turnaround Schools to deal with persistently disruptive pupils, he said that adults who breach ASBOS should expect prison.
As for younger offenders, Mr Howard said: "Courts already have the power to suspend the driving licence of people with criminal convictions. A Conservative Government will give the courts the additional power to delay the right to a driving licence for anyone who does not yet hold one. Youngsters will know that if they don’t behave, they won’t drive. After all a car is one of the biggest status symbols a youngster can have."
In addition, action would be taken to hold to account the tiny minority of parents who refuse to keep their children under control. "We will introduce supervision orders for parents whose children persistently breach ASBOs. Parents will have to spend time at home with their kids – and families will be stopped from going to the places where they cause all the trouble.
"This tiny minority of troublesome families also need to understand that, if they don’t mend their ways, they risk being forced to leave their neighbourhood. We will give local authorities the power to withhold housing benefit from families whose immediate members are convicted three or more times of anti-social behaviour," he said.
Mr Howard added: "We’ve got to take a stand. Local communities should not have to settle for this nonsense. My aim is clear. I don’t want members of the public looking over their shoulders – I want criminals looking round in fear. It’s time to give the yobs a dose of the fear they’ve been dishing out to the rest of us. I want these people to fear the consequences of their actions. Let there be no misunderstanding: I want to make them fear the consequences of their actions.
"While Mr Blair talks, a Conservative Government will act. We will act to tilt the balance of power away from the disruptive minority in favour of the decent law abiding majority who make up the backbone of our country. People will face a clear choice at the next election: a choice between a Conservative Government that will reward people who do the right thing and hold to account the small minority of families who don’t – or five more years of pussy footing around from Mr Blair."
Meanwhile, commenting on Michael Howard’s speech on anti-social behaviour, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Mark Oaten MP said: “The Conservative record on crime speaks for itself. Far from cutting offending, violent crime rose every year under the Conservatives. And while John Major promised to increase police numbers by 5,000, Michael Howard cut them by nearly 500.
“Labour promised to be tough on crime and the causes of crime. We have seen eight years of get tough rhetoric but little progress on tackling the causes.
“Anti-Social Behaviour Orders are a useful tool but the failure rates are unacceptably high. The most important thing is to change the behaviour and stop the offending, which is why Liberal Democrats developed the simple and effective Acceptable Behaviour Contract.”
