Tories unveil 'zero tolerance' crime strategy

Releasing police from the shackles of targets and red tape, removing the culture of political correctness and promoting a zero tolerance approach, would the cornerstones of a Tory government's anti-crime strategy, party leader Michael Howard has said today.

The Opposition leader's vision also calls for 40,000 more police officers, a major new prison building programme, a tough crackdown on school violence, and action designed to "restore the nation's self-respect".

In a speech on law and order in Middlesborough today, the Conservative Leader unveiled plans for a radical shake-up in which police forces would be "encouraged to challenge every level of crime and disorder".

Mr Howard blamed "sociological mumbo-jumbo" for blurring the distinction between right and wrong.

"It is not public relations that people want, it is effective policing. Conservatives will give the police a simple, clear objective – to prevent crime and disorder. We need to police our streets – not de-police them. We need a police force which intervenes, confronts and challenges every kind of crime and disorder – from graffiti and litter to burglary and robbery. In short we need zero tolerance policing," he said.

Mr Howard slammed the McPherson Report recommendations that the police keep a record of every stop they make, and that anyone stopped by the police should be able to see a record of that paperwork, and warned that the bureaucracy involved could "bog down individual officers, and discourage them from stepping troublemakers".

Far from adopting the recommendations, a Tory government would increase stop and search as part of the solution to rising crime, he said.

"Conservatives will stand up for the silent, law abiding majority who play by the rules and pay their dues. We will put their rights first. Like them, I have had enough of the culture of political correctness – which is designed to blur the distinction between right and wrong. And like them I have had enough of excuses for poor behaviour and crime. If we are to tackle crime, we must begin to challenge these attitudes head on," he said.

(gmcg)