Back to the Future

Last Thurday, In the humid hall of a Victorian theatre that is Battersea Arts Centre, before an audience of slightly sceptical 'crime fighting local heroes', Alan Johnson made his calm pitch to establish himself as Home Secretary. As we know, since the tenure of Dr Reid, the Home Office 'aint what it used to be; no prisons, no probation service (they were not fit for John Reid's purpose) and really not much muscle at all. So what can a new Home Secretary say at his launch - even with the support of a top civil servant such as Sir David Normington by his side? 

Its was crumbs off the table time rather than a descent meal but Mr Johnson tried his best. Singing from the hymn book of Louise Casey (I must admit to having a soft spot for her - even now after two years in the wilderness she is still  dogged, determined) but with a slightly encouraging recognition of the small issue of mulitple deprivation that characterises most criminals, he voiced his concerns.

But what did it all amount to? No brave new world of challenging offending behaviour (Jack Straw has his dead hand on that area of crime and disroder reduction), no new funds to capacity build victim or witness support or to encourage neighbourhood watch, no cross departmental initiatives to to develop Home Zones in deprived areas that might go some way to fortifying areas that will come under the cosh of recession. Just a recognition of his powerlessness and a dash for the safe - but most recently vacated - ground of tackling anti social behaviour.

Alan Johnson, after reciting the list of crime and disorder reduction successes of the government said ".....but we must not rest on our laurels". Alan you are right, a new agenda is needed, one that genuinely tries to tackle the causes of crime and is not simply reactive to crime incidents. Yes, over the past couple of years the momentum on ASB has been lost (and it needs to be recovered)but it is about time that the structures and activities of the departments that you and Jack have control of were properly understood and properly supported - to enable offenders and their families to be worked with and worked upon; to enable communities to be properly and consistently supported, encouraged and strengthened. There have been too many initiatives and not enough consistent and responsible leadership.

U.S. July 2008

Statutory Public Accountability for CDRPs

The provisions contained within section 19-21 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 which extend the remit of local authorities to scrutinise the functioning of the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in England and Community Safety Partnership in Wales, will be commenced on 30 April 2009 in England and in Wales from October in 2009.

It will put in place arrangements that ensure that every local authority has in place a committee with power to review and scrutinise, and make reports or recommendations, about the functioning of the CDRP/CSP responsible authorities (local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, police authorities, the police, primary care trusts in England and local health boards in Wales).

The new regulations can be viewed via this link: Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009. In addition Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) will commence for crime and disorder matters, alongside other local government matters.