Suella Braverman has been clear in her expectation that police must put the needs of the public and victims first. But multiplying demands are making it more difficult to make that desire a reality.
This year the 200th anniversary of Robert Peel first becoming Home Secretary. His words “The Police are the Public; the Public the Police” are as true today as they were then.
From books to social media bans to ‘non-crime hate incidents’, we live in an increasingly censorious society.
Voters’ assessments of their ability to pay their bills make grim reading. Ministers will need to tread very carefully in the months ahead.
Scarce resources need to be targeted at the real evils of the trade, not squandered in performative crackdowns.
A ‘law and order’ party which presides over the effective decriminalisation of burglary is going to end up in serious trouble.
Forces need to strike the right balance between being visible and effective, but not heavy-handed.
There is no democratic entitlement to engage in politically-motivated harassment or property damage.
A young constituent of mine is just one of many victims of crime who have been failed by box-ticking bureaucrats.
In Surrey, we see middle-class activists cause great damage and disruption before getting let off the hook.
With his handsome 2019 majority, the Prime Minister may struggle to blame Labour for a limp response.
Too often viewed as a victimless crime, stolen vehicles are often used for drug running and worse.
We need to be honest about what it is for and what it is not. Protecting life and property must come first.
The Government intends to introduce a Code of Practice, but must take care it doesn’t do more harm than good.
A serious programme is needed to drive up prosecution rates and refocus on the police on bring criminals to justice.