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I Was Burgled & Cops Couldn’t Do A Thing But Labour Say We’re Too Tough On Crime. Here Are My Ideas On How To Fix Things
IT WAS a scene that shamed Britain.
Armed kidnapper Daniel Dowling-Brooks sauntered out of prison straight towards a £150,000 Bentley when he stopped, grinned and declared: “Big up Keir Starmer.”
PAArmed kidnapper Daniel Dowling-Brooks, one of 1,200 criminals let out of prison early, went straight towards a £150,000 Bentley before declaring: ‘Big Up Keir Starmer’[/caption] ReutersLabour cannot afford not to be tough on crime, if Sir Keir Starmer is to turn around his dwindling approval ratings[/caption]He was one of 1,200 criminals let out of prison early because we had run out of space in our jails.
How did the country get into this mess? And who is to blame?
Apparently it is because ministers have been too tough on crime.
You heard that right folks — too TOUGH on crime.
You might be too scared to pop down to the High Street because gangs on bikes are out snatching phones.
But according to the Government’s prison sentencing adviser, David Gauke, ministers are guilty of being too hard on offenders.
This has led to longer prison sentences, over-crowded jails and the early release of prisoners like Dowling-Brooks, he says.
The implication of his sneering report is clear. When the public calls for yobs who rob grannies to be locked up for longer, they are wrong and should be ignored.
What total rubbish.
Our politicians are not too tough on crime. Quite the opposite.
Most of my family and friends feel less safe today than a few years ago.
Take the shoplifting epidemic — it is out of control. Gangs clear entire shelves into their bags before calmly walking out, not even breaking a sweat.
Shatterproof screens are being installed around supermarket tills, staff are being given body cameras and even butter is security tagged.
A little while ago, I was burgled.
The thief was only there a few minutes. But in that time, he managed to plunder all my jewellery and the lifetime of memories it held for me.
My favourite ring, given to me by a boyfriend, the necklace my dad gave me for my 21st and the earrings that were a Christmas present from my mum. All gone.
When the police came round, they were brutally honest.
Our prison and justice system is broken. So what is the Labour government going to do about it?
It was probably the work of one of the professional burglars in my corner of London. The cops know who they are, but there is zero chance of the culprit being brought to justice because they leave no prints.
In other words, thanks for the call but there is nothing we can do.
There are millions of people like me.
Like my burglary, most crimes are committed by repeat offenders.
Yet people with up to 300 offences are avoiding prison sentences at court, according to the Crush Crime research group. Our prison and justice system is broken.
So what is the Labour government going to do about it?
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is off to Texas tomorrow to look at how prisons work over there.
She will study a scheme which lets inmates cut their jail time by earning “good behaviour credits” for taking part in education or drug rehab.
Drug-addled convicts
Points equal prizes. The more you show you are turning your life around, the more points you earn and the more time you knock off your sentence.
Texas has slashed its prison population by 15 per cent since it was introduced in 2007.
If we can learn something from the Texans, then we should.
Too many of our jails are warehouses for drug-addled convicts waiting for their next fix to arrive by drone.
But a few merits for good homework is not going to be enough.
So what should be done? I have a few ideas.
First, we need to build more prisons. The first duty of the Government is to look after its citizens.
This means locking people up when they pose a threat.
Second, prisoners should receive proper training on the inside so they can get a job on the outside.
Third, if criminals are given community punishments instead of prison, these must still be tough and visible.
If yobs deface war memorials or smash shop windows, they should have to clear the mess up.
Fourth, repeat offenders must be locked up. People deserve second chances — not 300.
Fifth, policing needs to be more visible. If shoplifters are targeting High Streets at lunchtime, then we should see bobbies on the beat at that time.
Sir Keir Starmer was swept to a landslide victory at the election, but just eight months on, his approval ratings are in free-fall.
Labour cannot afford not to be tough on crime.
HATS OFF TO ENDERS’ WRITERS
EASTENDERS celebrated its 40th anniversary this week – and what a week it was.
The Queen Vic exploded, trapping nearly everyone from the Square inside; the ghost of Angie appeared to help Sharon escape the rubble; and evil Reiss finally got his come-uppance when a bathtub fell on his head.
BBCThe ghost of Angie appeared to help Sharon escape the rubble as EastEnders celebrated its 40th anniversary[/caption]Hats off to the writers for that one.
I grew up with EastEnders. Too young to have watched the early days of Den and Angie, my golden era was the mid-1990s.
I’ve seen Michael Gambon perform live on stage and spent many weekends watching old Hitchcock films.
But for me, nothing will beat the high drama of Sharon’s scandalous affair with her brother-in-law Phil being exposed.
The incriminating confession tape played out at Phil’s engagement party to Kathy. The white-hot fury of Grant – a man betrayed by his brother and wife Sharon – who seeks vengeance with a murder bid.
And a community so shocked by the revelation, they flee back to their homes to escape the violence.
EastEnders is the Greek tragedy of our day.
My family loves it. Our Christmas Eve schedule is built around it.
Our family WhatsApp chat pings with our takes on the latest drama.
I thought the 40th anniversary storyline was a triumph.
It even got Brits dashing home after work to watch telly live again.
One of my colleagues went to a watch party.
Here’s to the next 40 years on Albert Square.
MAURA A RAYA LIGHT
I SEE reality TV’s Maura Higgins has been spotted on celebrity dating app Raya after splitting with Towie badboy Pete Wicks.
Now I must confess, I love both these stars.
Maura is hands down the best Love Island contestant there has ever been – an acid-tongued bombshell who delivered the show’s best one-liners.
While Pete is another fave of mine.
I have watched every episode of Towie.
They would have been a reality TV super-couple: The Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton of the Instagram era – but with veneers and fillers.
I am sad they didn’t last.
Although perhaps it means they might pop up on my favourite TV shows again.
So every cloud . . .
Getting Brid of ciggies
THE new Bridget Jones film got me thinking: do girls like me ever grow out of our obsession with weighing ourselves and trying to give up cigarettes?
I’ve been trying (admittedly not very hard – or successfully) to lose the same half-stone for about five years.
GettyNew Bridget Jones film got me thinking: do girls like me ever grow out of our obsession with weighing ourselves?[/caption]For some reason, going to the gym once a week and switching to skinny cappuccinos just hasn’t done the trick.
There has been more success on the cigarette front. I downloaded the NHS app in November and have basically given them up.
Although I must confess I had a cheeky fag at a birthday party the other day.
What would Bridget say? Smoked two cigarettes and drank a bottle of Chardonnay – must try harder.
RELIEF TO MPS WHO SIN
A TORY MP had to be rescued from a brothel at 4am after fearing he’d been honey-trapped by a suspected KGB agent, it was revealed this week.
But one person’s sex scandal is another’s business opportunity.
Reputation consultants Animus Associates have been emailing MPs offering to help if they get into any, er, embarrassing scrapes.
Their brochure declares that a politician’s life “isn’t easy” and “you are vulnerable to making a mistake, being accused of something you haven’t done and facing a media storm without people knowing the facts”.
Anti-sleaze watchdogs are “all waiting to catch you out” and chief whips “can’t always” be relied on to be sympathetic, it darkly adds.
But fear not – aid is on the way.
The firm promises to help scandal-hit politicians and even provides testimonials from (anonymous) MPs and peers praising its “discretion”.
Phew. Finally our politicians can feel free to say yes to that three-in-a-bed romp without worrying.
