01 April 2004
Prime Minister Tony Blair has unveiled tough plans to target the 5,000 criminals who are responsible for almost 10% of all crime in the UK.
Blair announced plans to use local crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) to identify and crack down on 'prolific offenders', who he believes are wreaking havoc in local communities.
These people are responsible for around a million crimes each year, which cost the country at least £2bn annually, Blair said.
All 376 CDRPs, which bring together local authorities and police forces, will be asked by the summer to identify the 15–20 most prolific criminals in their areas. Police will be given wider powers to target and collect evidence against these people to make it easier to secure convictions.
This would include the use of 'intrusive surveillance', such as phone tapping and closed circuit television monitoring of problem individuals. Police forces have been lobbying for change, telling the government that there are too many restrictions on their use of intrusive surveillance.
A pilot project in north Bristol launched in 2002 that targeted 16 persistent offenders cut the number of crimes they committed from 1,600 to 400, compared with predictions based on their previous rate of offending.
Blair, who unveiled the plan at a joint Local Government Association and Home Office conference on March 30, said the government was determined tackle the people who blight their communities.
'This hard core of offenders may include local gang leaders, drug dealers, vandals, car thieves and others whose prolific antisocial behaviour is causing most harm,' he told delegates.
'We are determined to tackle this small group of offenders who do so much harm. And if we have to give new powers to the police, we will do so.'
When these criminals are released from prison they will be closely supervised to ensure they do not relapse into a life of crime. Blair told delegates that partnership with local government was crucial if crime rates were to be cut and safer communities created. He appealed to councils to use the powers that would be at their disposal.
'It is essential that we take this agenda forward together. We can help, but only you can make it happen on the ground,' he said.
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