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MP urges clampdown on low-level crime
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| David Evennett |
AN MP has said there needs to be zero tolerance for low-level crime if people's quality of life is not to suffer.
David Evennett, the Conservative MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, was speaking in the House of Commons in a debate about policing .
He said: "Certain problems have got worse, including anti-social behaviour, binge drinking, drug crime, problems on public transport, vandalism, graffiti and the fear of crime."
Mr Evennett added: "These are the real issues which my constituents and others across London are concerned about.
"Lower-grade crime which impinges on people's lives has not gone down."
Mr Evennett said people would become more fearful of crime if they felt their quality of life was being threatened by low-level crime.
8:44am Saturday 12th May 2007
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CommentPosted by: Bert, Welling on 5:38pm Sat 12 May 07
Well done Mr Evennett! It is these issues that stop some of us going out at night, we are SCARED! Going out in the Broadway at nighttime (and daytimes sometimes) is like going into a war zone...So much for the former Prime Minsters, tough on crime rubbish!!
Well done Mr Evennett! It is these issues that stop some of us going out at night, we are SCARED! Going out in the Broadway at nighttime (and daytimes sometimes) is like going into a war zone...So much for the former Prime Minsters, tough on crime rubbish!!
Posted by: Kent Pete, Beckenham on 6:26pm Sat 12 May 07
I totally disagree. Police have a finite amount of resources. Surely we should concentrate on the [bold]" real crime "[/bold] such as Rape and Pilage [ which incidentally still happens in part's of Bexleyheath ] rather than concern ourselves with [italic[bold]]"soft crime"[/bold] [/italic] such as smoking cannabis and fish stalking.
I totally disagree. Police have a finite amount of resources. Surely we should concentrate on the
" real crime " such as Rape and Pilage rather than concern ourselves with "soft crime" such as smoking cannabis and fish stalking.
Posted by: Roj Blake, Erith on 9:12pm Sat 12 May 07
Why don't they do something simple. Maidstone for instance have "stick your gum" boards on lamp posts. Stops it from being put on the floor and the risk of a fine.
Why don't they do something simple. Maidstone for instance have "stick your gum" boards on lamp posts. Stops it from being put on the floor and the risk of a fine.
Posted by: bexleyheath resident on 10:03am Sun 13 May 07
kent pete, where in the article does it say that large crimes should not be stopped? There should be zero-tolerance on [bold]all[/bold] types of crime, large and small. It could be done if less resources were put into employing pen-pushers and more into police on the streets.
kent pete, where in the article does it say that large crimes should not be stopped? There should be zero-tolerance on
all types of crime, large and small. It could be done if less resources were put into employing pen-pushers and more into police on the streets.
Posted by: June Deane, Crayford on 12:00pm Mon 14 May 07
I am all 'for' Mr Evennett's concerns and actions. Crayford now has CPSO's working as our own Met Police are too busy to attend any problems. They are working so well and have excellent relationships with the younger people of our society but they do not have the powers to arrest and these youngsters know that! We have to have sympathy for our younger people nowadays. Where do they go to where they can enjoy cheap safe activities. The only place they can go out are the streets, and on those streets are off licences that sell Alcohol to young people.
Good luck with keeping our streets safe but find the youngsters somewhere to go and that will make a huge impact on everyones safety and environment
I am all 'for' Mr Evennett's concerns and actions. Crayford now has CPSO's working as our own Met Police are too busy to attend any problems. They are working so well and have excellent relationships with the younger people of our society but they do not have the powers to arrest and these youngsters know that! We have to have sympathy for our younger people nowadays. Where do they go to where they can enjoy cheap safe activities. The only place they can go out are the streets, and on those streets are off licences that sell Alcohol to young people.
Good luck with keeping our streets safe but find the youngsters somewhere to go and that will make a huge impact on everyones safety and environment
Posted by: Don Burrows, Dartford on 1:51pm Mon 14 May 07
[quote]quote[/quote] MP urges clampdown on low-level crime.
We live in a free country. However, we are not free to pick and choose which laws to regard and which to disregard. Laws made by Parliament and local laws - bye-laws - are made to be enforced. Neither the police nor the local authority has the absolute right to determine which crimes will be tolerated in their area. If the law cannot be enforced because the police are under resourced, or because the law is a bad law, it is a political matter and should be dealt with by Parliament. Under resourceing of the police leads them to concentrate on serious crime, and this is understandable. However, perpetrators of serious crime learn their disrespect of the law at the lower level. Even cycling on the pavement is a criminal offence, incurring a fine of £500, but many people flout this law; especially children. And the police turn a blind eye.
quote
MP urges clampdown on low-level crime.
We live in a free country. However, we are not free to pick and choose which laws to regard and which to disregard. Laws made by Parliament and local laws - bye-laws - are made to be enforced. Neither the police nor the local authority has the absolute right to determine which crimes will be tolerated in their area. If the law cannot be enforced because the police are under resourced, or because the law is a bad law, it is a political matter and should be dealt with by Parliament. Under resourceing of the police leads them to concentrate on serious crime, and this is understandable. However, perpetrators of serious crime learn their disrespect of the law at the lower level. Even cycling on the pavement is a criminal offence, incurring a fine of £500, but many people flout this law; especially children. And the police turn a blind eye.
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