50 mistakes in 100 days (11-15)

By Howard Dawber

Over 100 days ago, Britain woke up to a new coalition government. In that time they have already displayed extraordinary economic illiteracy and are beginning to champion a dangerous mix of cruelty and cheerful incompetence, perhaps already worse than any government in living memory.

Here are the numbers eleven to fifteen of the top 50 things they have done wrong … so far…

11. MORE CRIMINALS SPARED PRISON AND LET OUT EARLY – WHILE REDUCING PROBATION SERVICES AND SLASHING THE COURTS BUDGET
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has decided to let thousands of prisoners out of jails before their current sentences are complete. He says prison is “ineffectual” and that there are too many people locked up. He is looking to release thousands of the 85,000 in prison, and says he wants fewer sent to prison in the first place.

Now you might think that given that policy, now would be a good time to ramp up funding for the probation services to deal with this heavier workload and to help ensure these people who will now be freely walking around the streets do not reoffend.

Instead the coalition are doing the opposite: this year’s Probation Service cuts mean that a number of probation trusts are going to have to reduce their staff, whilst others will introduce a vacancy freeze. If probation service and CAF CASS cuts in future years are twice as large – as expected by the National Association of Probation Officers – the union believes that “neither service will be in a position to fulfil its statutory responsibilities.” NAPO research suggests that instead recruiting an extra 1,250 probation staff would produce net savings of £300 million a year – by avoiding lots of short repeat sentencing.

At the same time Clarke’s department is planning £2bn of cuts and the closure of 103 Magistrates’ Courts, and 54 County Courts. This will mean up to 15,000 job losses from the department.

Why is it a bad idea? Taken together, these decisions do not punish criminals, deter criminals or help them get back in society. They will lead to an increase in crime and will probably cost the government more money in a relatively short space of time. They are a reversal of the policies which have seen crime falling over the last 10 years. The Met Police Commissioner doesn’t think much of Clarkes plans, either.

12. ABANDONING THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
On 28 July Home Secretary Teresa May abandoned Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, a crucial tool in the armoury of police and local authorities to tackle low-level anti-social behaviour.

Why is it a bad idea? ASBOs may not have been perfect but they worked for some councils and for some people – abandoning the whole thing now suggests the ConDems are returning to a mentality where low-level Anti-Social Behaviour will be tolerated and police will only act after a crime has been committed.

13. ATTACK ON PUBS AND CLUBS, END TO STAGGERED CLOSING HOURS
The Con-Dems have blamed pubs and clubs for the “binge drinking culture” and are moving to restrict licensing hours.

Why is it a bad idea? Binge drinking has been fuelled not by pubs and bars but by cheap booze in supermarkets. The so-called 24 hour licensing law brought in by Labour was at the request of the police among other experts who wanted to be able to suggest some bars open later and some close earlier, rather than having everyone thrown out, drunk, at 11pm. The ConDems are attacking the wrong target and this will have a negative impact on pubs without having any effect on off-licences and supermarkets where the real problems lie.

14. ABOLITION OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
Labour brought in RDAs to help promote regional growth. They were part of the 10 years of unprecedented growth in the UK and helped deliver regeneration in places like Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Liverpool.They have been useful for business and have been successful in promoting the regions for investment. The ConDems, despite their claims to be decentralisers, are going to close them all down – except for the one Boris runs in London, of course.

Why is it a bad idea? This change will mean decisions taken centrally in London instead of in the regions, it will pull the rug out from under fragile regional economies, it will put the regions at a competitive disadvantage and stifle the recovery. Other countries in Europe and our international competitors are currently strengthening regional government and regional economic development, not dismantling it. It is exactly what Mrs Thatcher did during the 1980s with the abolition of the metropolitan counties – a short-sighted and spiteful decision taken by London-based politicians who do not understand life beyond the Watford Gap.

15. SCRAPPING THE ID CARD PROJECT AND RESTRICTING USE OF DNA AND CCTV
The ConDems have scrapped ID Cards – which were a simple way of proving people’s identity useful in hundreds of situations. While ID cards had their critics, the coalition is also undermining the police’s use of DNA and CCTV. They do not want “innocent” people’s DNA kept on record ( for example if someone is accused of rape, but a conviction seems unlikley and the case is dropped, they don’t want the DNA of that person to be kept). They don’t want councils and companies to be able to keep CCTV images.

Why is it a bad idea? These measures will make it harder to prevent crime and catch criminals.